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Calf follow on

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  • 28-03-2014 7:36pm
    #1
    Reggie.
    Registered Users Posts: 24,368 ✭✭✭✭


    How long do ye lot feed calf crunch for before ye change over to follow on?


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    #2
    cristeoir
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭cristeoir


    I usually introduce it by putting a little bit of it through the crunch and increasing the amount gradually over a few weeks , don't like making any sudden changes to their diet.


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    #3
    bikes
    Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭bikes


    I put bucket fed calves on to a weanling meal shortly after they are weaned off milk,I mix them for a while first.


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    #4
    Reggie.
    Registered Users Posts: 24,368 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    bikes wrote: »
    I put bucket fed calves on to a weanling meal shortly after they are weaned off milk,I mix them for a while first.

    I do the same I was just wondering was it too soon


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    #5
    TEAT SQUEEZER
    Closed Accounts Posts: 516 ✭✭✭TEAT SQUEEZER


    my aut born weanlings are still eating the 18% cube they were first offered at wk 1... took to the cube from the off ,no messing with coarse rations that the birds would spoil


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    #6
    bikes
    Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭bikes


    Reggie. wrote: »
    I do the same I was just wondering was it too soon

    I wean them either when they are eating 1kg of meal each or 10 weeks,by then they wont need the cooked ration and their rumen is developed enough for a ration. I bought calves off a lad a few weeks back and he was feeding 2 week old calves a bull ration,they wont be seeing that again for a few months.


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    #7
    exercise is the antidote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 346 ✭✭exercise is the antidote


    bikes wrote: »
    I wean them either when they are eating 1kg of meal each or 10 weeks,by then they wont need the cooked ration and their rumen is developed enough for a ration. I bought calves off a lad a few weeks back and he was feeding 2 week old calves a bull ration,they wont be seeing that again for a few months.

    I do the same here weather it's right or wrong I'm not sure, its just handy, never seem to have any problems weaning them then out to grass with them...


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    #8
    The Cuban
    Closed Accounts Posts: 492 ✭✭The Cuban


    TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »
    my aut born weanlings are still eating the 18% cube they were first offered at wk 1... took to the cube from the off ,no messing with coarse rations that the birds would spoil

    Sorry for my ignorance but Ive heard this "cube" name before, what is it or what do you mean by 18% cube ??


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    #9
    jt65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 572 ✭✭✭jt65


    The Cuban wrote: »
    Sorry for my ignorance but Ive heard this "cube" name before, what is it or what do you mean by 18% cube ??


    another term for nuts or pellets as opposed to coarse ration

    18% is the declared protein %


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    #10
    Reggie.
    Registered Users Posts: 24,368 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    jt65 wrote: »
    another term for nuts or pellets as opposed to coarse ration

    18% is the declared protein %

    I thought it was something like a lick or something


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    #11
    TEAT SQUEEZER
    Closed Accounts Posts: 516 ✭✭✭TEAT SQUEEZER


    Reggie. wrote: »
    I thought it was something like a lick or something
    aaahhh reggie .... i didnt realise "cube" wasn`t a universal term....... yeah its a 18% protein nut i`m using.. my point being that the calves took to them straight away and didnt need to go through the stages.. the nuts are sim size to the larger cattle nuts unlike calf pencils.. this helps increase intake i was told(shown figures in fact).


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    #12
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »
    aaahhh reggie .... i didnt realise "cube" wasn`t a universal term....... yeah its a 18% protein nut i`m using.. my point being that the calves took to them straight away and didnt need to go through the stages.. the nuts are sim size to the larger cattle nuts unlike calf pencils.. this helps increase intake i was told(shown figures in fact).
    Yeo started using conollys calf pencils last autumn some job. Complete different calves to other yrs and they took to them from day one too


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    #13
    Reggie.
    Registered Users Posts: 24,368 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »
    aaahhh reggie .... i didnt realise "cube" wasn`t a universal term....... yeah its a 18% protein nut i`m using.. my point being that the calves took to them straight away and didnt need to go through the stages.. the nuts are sim size to the larger cattle nuts unlike calf pencils.. this helps increase intake i was told(shown figures in fact).

    Here now I'm just a simple country lad :D


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    #14
    exercise is the antidote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 346 ✭✭exercise is the antidote


    had a calf that wouldn't drink this morning and only had a dribble yeaterday evening, so I gave him electrolytes and put him in single pen. Went to the vets this evening., gave me rumen booster and multi vitamin injection for a few days I suspect maybe it might be because of giving them weanling meal instead of calf crunch or pencils??


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    #15
    larrymiller
    Registered Users Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭larrymiller


    exercise is the antidote wrote: »
    had a calf that wouldn't drink this morning and only had a dribble yeaterday evening, so I gave him electrolytes and put him in single pen. Went to the vets this evening., gave me rumen booster and multi vitamin injection for a few days I suspect maybe it might be because of giving them weanling meal instead of calf crunch or pencils??

    Have you tried feeding him with a teat bucket to see if he can suck.?
    I put the teat in his mouth and squeeze the milk into his mouth so he'L get the taste of ot,
    But if he puts the teat in his mouth and chews it and sticks his tounge to the side that's a different story that will drive you mental,
    I would say you should be feeding crunch, don't know weather it would affect him drinking or not!


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    #16
    exercise is the antidote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 346 ✭✭exercise is the antidote


    larrymiller wrote: »
    Have you tried feeding him with a teat bucket to see if he can suck.?
    I put the teat in his mouth and squeeze the milk into his mouth so he'L get the taste of ot,
    But if he puts the teat in his mouth and chews it and sticks his tounge to the side that's a different story that will drive you mental,
    I would say you should be feeding crunch, don't know weather it would affect him drinking or not!

    He was drinking away on the teats the last week he's a suck calve and trained to the teats.... He just became un interested in the milk.. Could of affected his stomach in some way maybe?the rest are fine though...


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    #17
    Reggie.
    Registered Users Posts: 24,368 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    exercise is the antidote wrote: »
    He was drinking away on the teats the last week he's a suck calve and trained to the teats.... He just became un interested in the milk.. Could of affected his stomach in some way maybe?the rest are fine though...

    You didn't change the milk replacer in any way


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    #18
    larrymiller
    Registered Users Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭larrymiller


    exercise is the antidote wrote: »
    He was drinking away on the teats the last week he's a suck calve and trained to the teats.... He just became un interested in the milk.. Could of affected his stomach in some way maybe?the rest are fine though...

    Hmmmm. What else are you feeding him?
    Any changes been made that might influence anything?
    Is he eating well?


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    #19
    exercise is the antidote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 346 ✭✭exercise is the antidote


    Reggie. wrote: »
    You didn't change the milk replacer in any way

    Nope.?! Ill check in the morning first thing hope he drinks, have never lost a calf here yet,,


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    #20
    larrymiller
    Registered Users Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭larrymiller


    exercise is the antidote wrote: »
    Nope.?! Ill check in the morning first thing hope he drinks, have never lost a calf here yet,,

    Well any luck?


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    #21
    exercise is the antidote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 346 ✭✭exercise is the antidote


    larrymiller wrote: »
    Well any luck?

    Drank a 1lt this morning, gave electrolytes with some kaolin powder mixed in....looks abit better now. Will give him 5ml multi vitamin injection this evening....


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    #22
    Reggie.
    Registered Users Posts: 24,368 ✭✭✭✭Reggie.


    exercise is the antidote wrote: »
    Drank a 1lt this morning, gave electrolytes with some kaolin powder mixed in....looks abit better now. Will give him 5ml multi vitamin injection this evening....

    Give him another dose a kaolin powder again today to keep him on track


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