diet for newly purchased calves

Tomjim

bought 5 calves today about 4 weeks old. When I brought them home I left a bucket of water in with them and some haylage.

Tonight I gave them a powder for rehydration

I had intended to give them another powder in the morning and start them off on powdered milk tomorrow evening (half portion only), maybe with a little natural yogurt mixed through it

At what stage should I introduce meal

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Tomjim wrote: »

bought 5 calves today about 4 weeks old. When I brought them home I left a bucket of water in with them and some haylage.

Tonight I gave them a powder for rehydration

I had intended to give them another powder in the morning and start them off on powdered milk tomorrow evening (half portion only), maybe with a little natural yogurt mixed through it

At what stage should I introduce meal

I would go with a half rate mix of milk powder in the morning and build them up from there. Give them meal in the morning after you feed them milk. I assume that the previous owner had them on meal and if not, should have.

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How have your calves settled into their new environment.

Bass Reeves

I read that it is not recommended to give calves half rate milk as it will not digest properly. It is better to give them a half rate feed and access to water and a while later give them electrolyte ( rehydration ) mix. When I reared calves I had an electrolyte mix

1 level T-Spoon salt
Half a level T-Spoon Bred soda
100 grams ( glucose4oz)

mixed in 4 pints 2.2L of water. I used to slightly reduce the soda and salt and use 90 grams of glucose and mix in a 2L milk carton. It is not a great idea to leaves calves off milk too long. After 48 hours you do damage to the stomach.

I was a lazy f@@k used to buy calves at a night mart and presumed that they were fed that AM used to leave them in the mart over night. Bought them home the following morning small milk feed and electrolyte after. That evening 3/4 milk feed and electrolyte after. Then normal feed following morning access to straw, hay and water. Introduce ration as well with small milk feeds 100 grams/head watch for gluttons.

Tomjim

they appear ok, half rate feed this morning. Had to help 2 calves to drink electroyde last night and milk this morning. But they all drank themselves tonight

They seem more relaxed tonight

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Tomjim wrote: »

they appear ok, half rate feed this morning. Had to help 2 calves to drink electroyde last night and milk this morning. But they all drank themselves tonight

They seem more relaxed tonight

Best of luck with them.

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Bass Reeves wrote: »

I read that it is not recommended to give calves half rate milk as it will not digest properly. It is better to give them a half rate feed and access to water and a while later give them electrolyte ( rehydration ) mix. When I reared calves I had an electrolyte mix

1 level T-Spoon salt
Half a level T-Spoon Bred soda
100 grams ( glucose4oz)

mixed in 4 pints 2.2L of water. I used to slightly reduce the soda and salt and use 90 grams of glucose and mix in a 2L milk carton. It is not a great idea to leaves calves off milk too long. After 48 hours you do damage to the stomach.

I was a lazy f@@k used to buy calves at a night mart and presumed that they were fed that AM used to leave them in the mart over night. Bought them home the following morning small milk feed and electrolyte after. That evening 3/4 milk feed and electrolyte after. Then normal feed following morning access to straw, hay and water. Introduce ration as well with small milk feeds 100 grams/head watch for gluttons.

I have bought a few calves in night mart's over the years and would never leave them without a feed/drink during the night - bad form IMO.

Bass Reeves

Base price wrote: »

I have bought a few calves in night mart's over the years and would never leave them without a feed/drink during the night - bad form IMO.

Had no trailer and shed was up through a field with no light so could not take them home. Ever dealer was doing the same thing except in the morning mine were only going on a 8 mile spin and were fed well before mid day.

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Bass Reeves wrote: »

Had no trailer and shed was up through a field with no light so could not take them home. Ever dealer was doing the same thing except in the morning mine were only going on a 8 mile spin and were fed well before mid day.

So you bought sucks at a night mart with no means of transport (trailer) and you let them lie over in the Mart until the next day "presuming" that the previous owner fed them. WTF..

Bass Reeves

Base price wrote: »

l
So you bought sucks at a night mart with no means of transport (trailer) and you let them lie over in the Mart until the next day "presuming" that the previous owner fed them. WTF..

WTF does a dealer do. Never had an issue with it never had losses over and above the norm. usually bought 3-4 week old calves never 10 day old's. Needs must I did not inherit a farm or get all and sundry's that other take for granted, sheds, tractor, trailers, mowers, tedders, fertlizer spreaders, bale handlers, hay sheds, water troughs, meal troughs, fences, electric fence engerizers, etc down to syrings and needles.

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Bass Reeves wrote: »

WTF does a dealer do. Never had an issue with it never had losses over and above the norm. usually bought 3-4 week old calves never 10 day old's. Needs must I did not inherit a farm or get all and sundry's that other take for granted, sheds, tractor, trailers, mowers, tedders, fertlizer spreaders, bale handlers, hay sheds, water troughs, meal troughs, fences, electric fence engerizers, etc down to syrings and needles.

WTF does a dealer have to do other than making a few dollars on the back of the less informed/knowledgeable farmers.