Five Feed Tips for Weaning Calves
- Use Cattle Lick Tubs When Weaning Calves. Cattle lick tubs can be used as a free-choice supplement in calf receiving pens. ...
- Offer Palatable Calf Starter Feed. When calves search for feed, make sure there’s a palatable feed in the bunk. ...
- Select a Feed That Supports the Immune System of Weaning Calves. It’s critical to support the immune system of weaning calves during high stress. ...
- Find the Right Feed Form. The physical feed form can influence consumption. Bigger pellets tend to work best for calf starter feeds because they are softer.
- Prioritize Starter Feed Quality. Evaluate your feed quality and don’t settle for the least expensive option – it might be cheaper up front, but it could also be less ...
How do you start feeding weaning calves?
Using the 1,2,3 rule:
- Use the first milk (colostrum) from the cow
- Feed the calf colostrum within the first two hours of birth
- Calves must be offered at least three litres of good quality colostrum
How much do you feed a weaned calf?
consume 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in dry matter the first week on feed. These are calves that were fed on the farm in which they were raised and typically had been creep feed. The only major stress on the calves was weaning, and death loss and sickness were minimal. Yearling
When should calves be weaned from their mothers?
The short answer: Some calves can be weaned as early as 60 - 90 days and still be quite successful. The long answer: A calf can be weaned from its mother any time after birth. Typically, calves perform best if left on the cow until a good percentage (80-90%) of the diet they consume each day is grass or hay.
What is the optimal feeding level for calves?
The following practices for raising calves can:
- Decrease the exposure of calves to disease.
- Improve calf health.
- Improve calf survival rates.
- Improve growth rates.
What to feed calves when you wean them?
Calves are adapted to grass; so long stem hay for the first 3-7 days is a normal recommendation. Calves usually prefer a dry grain mix at first, but will quickly adapt to high moisture feeds, including corn silage over a 1-2 week period.
When should I start feeding grain to my calves?
In early weaning systems calves need to begin eating some grain by 2 weeks of age to allow enough rumen development to occur before weaning at 5 or 6 weeks of age. If we do a good job of managing grain intake, it is possible to wean calves at 6 weeks, even when milk feeding rates are high.
What do you feed a 6 week old calf?
Whole milk can be used to feed baby calves. Calves should be fed daily approximately 10% of their birth body weight (1 quart of milk weighs 2 pounds). For example, a Holstein calf weighing 90 pounds at birth would be fed 4.5 quarts (9 pints) of milk daily or 2.25 quarts per feeding when fed twice daily.
What should a 4 week old calf eat?
Calf starter feeds should be dust-free, highly palatable feeds containing 75 to 80 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN), 15 to 20 percent crude protein, and adequate minerals and vitamins. They should be coarsely ground, rolled, or pelleted to facilitate feed intake and rumen development.
How long should calves be on starter feed?
It is suggested that calves should be consuming a minimum of 2 lb/day of a high quality calf starter before weaning. Calves can be maintained on the starter for 2 to 3 weeks postweaning and then transition to a grower diet offered with long forage.
What do you feed a 3 month old calf?
A 3-month-old calf does not have the rumen capacity or digestive capability via rumen microbes to utilize diets with free-choice hay or large amounts of fibrous feeds like soybean hulls, wheat midds, cottonseed hull, and corn gluten feed.
How much grain should a 3 month old calf eat?
There are guidelines on how much grain a calf should be eating in order to have a functional rumen and be weaned. The rule of thumb is that calves should be consuming about 2 pounds (about 4 cups) of starter per day for three days in a row to be weaned onto all-solid feed (Jones, and Heinrichs 2017).
Can you wean a calf at 3 months?
Weaning calves at 3 to 5 months of age may also be a viable alternative if forages are scarce in the latter part of the grazing season. There are a number of items to consider prior to early weaning calves. Calves can adapt quickly to the change in environment and diet if a management plan has been carefully developed.
How do I get my 2 month old calf to take a bottle?
It is a pretty simple process:Feed a bottle 2–3 times a day. ... Watch for scours (more on that in a minute)Provide pasture, water, forage (after weaning is most typical), good-quality hay and a clean environment.Provide a free-choice calf-starter such as Calf-Manna® by Manna Pro® (if desired)Offer a good mineral program.
How much milk should a 4 week old calf drink?
Calves should be fed high quality milk replacer containing 28% protein. Start with 1 lb of milk solids (1 gallon) in the first week and gradually increase to 2 lbs/day (2 gallons of milk) in the first 4–5 weeks of age.
How often should calves be bottle fed?
Most calves need only need 2–3 bottles a day. You won't have to worry about middle-of-the-night feedings or early-morning waking; bottle calves eat during the day and sleep at night. They will need only two bottles a day if they are healthy, and the weather is nice.
How long do you bottle feed a calf with milk replacer?
After the initial colostrum feeding, calves should be fed up to 2 liters of milk replacer two to three times a day. This will continue until the calf is at least 8-12 weeks old. As the calf grows, you can begin to supplement milk replacer feedings with hay, calf pellets, and pasture.
How much grain should a 2 month old calf eat?
There are guidelines on how much grain a calf should be eating in order to have a functional rumen and be weaned. The rule of thumb is that calves should be consuming about 2 pounds (about 4 cups) of starter per day for three days in a row to be weaned onto all-solid feed (Jones, and Heinrichs 2017).
How much grain should I feed my 5 month old calf?
From grouping to 6 months, feed 5 pounds of calf grower daily and free-choice, high-quality hay. You may substitute pasture when it is available. From 6 months to 1 year, feed 0-7 pounds of herd concentrate daily; limit fed-silage, greenchop, or free-choice hay. You may substitute pasture when it is available.
How do I start my calves on the grain?
0:111:54Introducing Calf Starter Feed in 3 Easy Steps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo keep if you can buy one of those shallow bowls it fits into a bucket that will be perfect and asMoreSo keep if you can buy one of those shallow bowls it fits into a bucket that will be perfect and as the calf starts to eat more starter. Then you increase the starter that you offer the calf.
Do calves Need grain?
Calves will need 4 to 5 pounds of a grain-protein mixture per head daily to average 1.2 pounds daily on winter fescue pastures (Table 3). Forage sorghum, small grain and grass legume silages work well for wintering calves but are lower in energy than corn silage.
Why are the first two weeks after weaning important?
That paper notes the first two weeks after weaning are critical because stress can be high and calves need to learn how to eat and drink.
How many calves per pen?
To insure that smaller and more timid calves get a chance at feed and water, limit 20 calves per pen during the critical first few days on the starter ration. Placing one or two older calves that are accustomed to eating and drinking in with the early-weaned calves helps to reduce stress on the weaned calves and give them someone to follow to ...
How to care for a calf?
1. The calves should be placed in a small pen with shelter available . The feed bunk and water source should be easily accessible and recognizable. 2. The ration needs to be high in energy and protein and highly palatable.
What is the best protein for a young calves?
Soybean meal or alfalfa is a preferable protein source over cottonseed meal for young calves, and Lalman says the ration labeled Diet B is well tested and favored by producers starting lightweight calves. 5.
Can silage be used in early weaning?
If silages and other fermented feeds will be used in an early weaning program, Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska beef specialist, says in another paper on early weaning those forages should be introduced gradually into the diets of young calves that are inexperienced with such feeds.
Which is better, diet A or diet B?
Oklahoma State University. Diet A has the advantage of requiring fewer commodities and no alfalfa pellets. Diet B is less bulky, resulting in better handling characteristics, and it should flow better in self-feeders. Also included in the reports are these eight pieces of advice. 1.
Does Oklahoma State University have a confined cow operation?
Oklahoma State University has for several years now maintained a confined-cow operation and therefore has calves on feed. Beef Producer asked OSU beef specialist Dave Lalman if he has any new lessons or thoughts from those experiences he would share. This is his answer:
How to get calves to eat?
Second, licking stimulates weaning calves’ appetites, prompting them to look for feed and water. 2. Offer Palatable Calf Starter Feed. When calves search for feed, make sure there’s a palatable feed in the bunk. If calves like the feed, they will start eating ...
What are the challenges of weaning calves?
Suddenly, they’re faced with a plethora of stressors and challenges. Weaning calves typically includes the weaning itself, shipping, commingling, processing, a change in nutrition and – to top it off – potential swings in weather. Weaning calves are often hungry, meaning they tend to bawl for their dam. Bawling for extended periods can irritate ...
Why do calves bawl?
Bawling for extended periods can irritate a calf’s throat and potentially lead to respiratory challenges. These stressors, paired with a still-developing immune system, can ultimately lead to reduced disease resistance.
What happens when a calf comes to the bunk?
A worst-case scenario is when a calf comes to the bunk for the first time and finds an unpalatable feed.
What is the best starter feed for calf?
Bigger pellets tend to work best for calf starter feeds because they are softer. Bigger pellets also allow calves to get more with every mouthful, which is essential for less aggressive calves standing at the bunk. Avoid mealy feeds, which often separate and become less appealing to weaning calves. 5.
When to use lick tubs?
1. Use Cattle Lick Tubs When Weaning Calves. Cattle lick tubs can be used as a free-choice supplement in calf receiving pens. For operations using supplement tubs in the cow herd, calves will be familiar with the tub and more likely to start eating quickly.
How long does it take for a calf to eat starter feed?
A quality, palatable starter feed will get calves eating quickly during the first 10 to 14 days post-weaning and help them stay healthy.
Why is early weaning important?
Early weaning can enhance the efficiency of drylot cow-calf operations by allowing greater use of poor quality roughages in diets for cows.
How long do calves eat after separation?
Regardless of weaning age, calves that start eating dry feed immediately after separation from their dam have fewer incidences of morbidity and mortality than calves that do not eat for 24 to 48 hours after separation. Bunk and waterer height needs to accommodate the smaller calf.
How long do calves have to be on dry matter?
At first calves will have a low dry matter intake (DMI) for 3 to 14 days following weaning. During this time, dry matter intake will be in the range of 1 to 1.5% of body weight. Starter diets are energy-dense (i.e., 65% to 75% TDN), relatively rich in crude protein (i.e., 14% to 16%), and highly palatable. Diets for early weaned calves need ...
Why do dams have calves?
Dams of early weaned calves are in better condition at calving and that carries over to breeding season. Calves can be fed to grow to their genetic potential when forage conditions are not optimal for the dam. It may be the key to more efficient feed use during times of drought or other periods of feed shortage.
How long before weaning can you feed a calf?
Offering a creep feed three to four weeks prior to weaning will help calves adjust to eating processed feeds and make the weaning transition period less stressful. Using creep feeding in this manner will bunk break the calves and will teach them to eat.
What is early weaning calves?
Early weaned calves are very efficient of converting feed to gain. A high percentage of early weaned calves fed a growing ration for a short period of time then stepped-up on a high concentrate diet can achieve a USDA Quality Grade of average choice or better.
Why do cows need to be retained after weaning?
Most studies of early weaning have concluded that ownership of early-weaned calves need to be retained for some period of time after weaning in order to generate enough revenue to increase the profit potential of the cow-calf enterprise as compared to weaning calves at a more conventional age.
Why is early weaning important?
This will allow more efficient use of feed resources, improve reproductive rate in young cows, and improve subsequent performance of the cow herd. Lack of forage from drought, poor body condition in young cows, and lack of growth of calves while nursing cows are signs early weaning can be used effectively. However, subsequent production of the calf in the feedlot will be predicated on an effective nutritional program for that calf. Growth rate must be maintained to allow marbling accretion to occur at an effective rate. An early weaning program can also allow access to calf marketing programs that require weaning and calves eating dry feed before marketing.
How early can you wean a cow?
There are many research studies that have examined the results of weaning at an earlier age-as early as 30 days of age but usually 150-170 days of age-on the subsequent performance of cows and calves. The effect on cow performance is pretty consistent, while the results from feedlot growth and carcass traits of early-weaned calves is anything ...
How old should cows be when weaning?
The conventional weaning age of beef calves at 200-220 days of age (about 7 months) generally coincides with the lack of forage growth for spring-born calves. There are many research studies ...
Is it better to wean a calf or feed it?
It is a reasonable conclusion that it would be more efficient to wean the calf and use feed resources directly to the calf to produce weight gain compared to using those feed resources to feed cows to produce milk for calf weight gain.
Does weaning cattle increase performance?
In summary, there is significant evidence to show early weaning calves will increase performance of beef cows, particularly for young cows and when there is a nutritional stress on the cow.
