Is it too soon to leave out the calves?

Sugarbowl

No calf out here. Calf house is warm during the day but worried about nights at the moment, are they still a bit cool. Would 3 month old calves be hardy enough for the nights outside?

orm0nd

All out around here any how, just keep a close eye on them

Good loser

Definitely time to let them out.

Siamsa Sessions

I’ve 10-12 week old calves out here. They’ve access to the shed at night if need be

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058294727/is-it-too-soon-to-leave-out-the-calves

They will be going in doors again in a few months. They will be fine.

RockOrBog

The calf with the full belly of warm milk from a cows teat will fare as good as the cow in any weather... from a bucket not so much

mahoney_j

None out and no panic …..used to try turn out calves from mid march but too young and not strong enough and they went backward …..mid may earliest I’d let them out ….have to be weaned at least 3 weeks

Sami23

As Buff Egan would say "out, out, out" with them 😄

Freejin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120546076#Comment_120546076

What kind of diet have you January/early February calves on now? Always feel at this time of year I'm holding them back keeping them inside.

mahoney_j

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120548448#Comment_120548448

Ad lib wholecrop wheat ….20% calf nut ad lib …and ad lib hay .remember reading some study that reccomended calves don’t go out till there 3 months old min as there unable to digest grass properly

orm0nd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120548618#Comment_120548618

Latest research suggests that a calf’s rumen isn't fully developed until 5-6 month stage.

We offer straw and we also let them into slightly strong unfertilized grass.

We like to build up their resistance to worms and think by letting them out early this helps. This stands to them especially in the second year.

Feed 1kg of 18% nut with added vitamins etc.

Each to their own what works for your system is what matters.

Usually at yearling stage we would be hitting 370 - 420 kg mark with good frame development and not over done flesh wise

Wildsurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120548618#Comment_120548618

I wonder are you causing as many rumen problems having them on ad lib meal at this stage as they end up eating so much and not enough fibre. I couldn't keep the ad lib feeders full after weaning when I had them

cosatron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120549463#Comment_120549463

I had to get out of ad libbing the calves as it was going right through them. So back to twice a day feeding and they are rock solid

mahoney_j

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120549463#Comment_120549463

Wholecrop wheat and hay giving lots of fibre and starch