Calf feeders

morclc

I was thinking of getting the milkflo teat feeders for feeding the calves. Are they the best brand calf feeders? Any advice really appreciated.

Buford T. Justice XIX

I havn't come across the milkflo feeders but I think it's important to have individual compartments for each calf until they are two weeks old at least so you can check and remove slow feeders into a younger age group if possible.

After two weeks, most calves should be OK on non compartment feeders, I'd say.

morclc

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I havn't come across the milkflo feeders but I think it's important to have individual compartments for each calf until they are two weeks old at least so you can check and remove slow feeders into a younger age group if possible.

After two weeks, most calves should be OK on non compartment feeders, I'd say.

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking of getting the milkbar compartment feeders now. I was told that the teats on this feeder are no good and that the milk comes out too slowly. What make of feeders do you use?

Buford T. Justice XIX

morclc wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking of getting the milkbar compartment feeders now. I was told that the teats on this feeder are no good and that the milk comes out too slowly. What make of feeders do you use?

I use a Milkbar 10 individual unit feeder with Big Softy teats for the younger calves. They then go onto a JFC 10 teat feeder with JFC teats or Milkbar teats, depending which is cheaper when I'm buying for changing the teats.

The Milkbar ones are slow alright, they usually are given to the older calves, the JFC ones usually leak earlier than the rest but are easier to suck from for the calves and the Big Softy are the easiest to feed from and tend to last for the season and the young ones are easier trained on them.

That's what I find anyway.

Dakota Dan

morclc wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking of getting the milkbar compartment feeders now. I was told that the teats on this feeder are no good and that the milk comes out too slowly. What make of feeders do you use?

There's a reason that the milk comes out slow, it's to mimick drinking a cow.

blackdog1

Dakota Dan wrote:

There's a reason that the milk comes out slow, it's to mimick drinking a cow.

Yeah I've found if you use leaking or too fast flowing teats on newborn calves they will get lung problems from milk going down the wrong way.