Feeding Bottle Calves
Feeding and managing baby calves from birth to 3 months of age donna m.
Feeding bottle calves. Didnt want to. On occasion when raising bottle calves you may be bottle feeding several calves at once if you are bottle raising the calves from your dairy cows or if you purchase day old dairy calves. A concentrated milk replacement formula provides less volume but is nutrient dense. Warm water is important in dissolving the.
Supplies you may need for bottle feeding calves include. 2 gallon bucket in which to mix milk replacer clean hot water thermometer to measure water temperature stainless steel. Watch for scours more on that in a minute provide pasture water forage after weaning is most typical good quality hay and a clean. Bottle feeding steps begin with clean hands clean bottles and clean mixing vessels.
He has had slight scours from day one have given him scour pills and other electrolites. Weve got three bottle calves at the barn right now. When your calf gets it is just as important as how much. Have a calf ive been feeding for five weeks on milk replacer sav a calf two bottles a day.
Johns and sharon franklin as the future productive units of a dairy herd heif ers represent a substantial financial investment in feed and labor. This investment needs to be protected. Adequate colostrum intake sets the stage for your calfs lifelong health. Feed a bottle 2 3 times a day.
Pour the milk replacer into the bottle and snap on the nipple. When you first arrive in the pen to feed the calves they circle around you bump you in the legs or hips or bottom depending on your height as it relates to the calf and start sucking on your jacket. Calves fed concentrated formula consume 2 to 3 liters per day compared to 6 or more liters with standard milk replacer. It is a pretty simple process.
You will need a separate pail or bucket for each calf. Mix the milk replacer with warm water according to the brand instructions. Its not difficult to hold two bottles but if you have very many calves in the chow line it helps to use bottle holders that you can simply hang on a fence or gate at feeding time. 2 or 3 quart bottle and nipple s 2 gallon pail s or bucket s.
They will only need 2 bottles a day if heshe is healthy and the weather is nice. Colostrum contains immunoglobulins g providing calves with immunity to fight infectionsa calfs ability to absorb these critical antibodies decreases after her first six hours of life and typically ends 24 hours post birth.