Calf eating hay

Willlewis

Member
Livestock Farmer
I’ve been told that calves eating too Much hay can make them pot belly. Just wanted to get other people opinions on this
 

Blaithin

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Alberta
What age are we talking?

6 month old weaned calf, not a big issue. Younger calf, weaned young, could be.

Don’t confuse the name hay belly with hay actually causing it though. It’s simply a lack of protein in a growing animal. Normally they’d get protein from milk but if they’re weaned early they need bumped into calf starter, grower or grain.

Predominantly hay belly is found in bottle calves.

A well started calf, weaned later with a good developed rumen shouldn’t have an issue.
 

Willlewis

Member
Livestock Farmer
What age are we talking?

6 month old weaned calf, not a big issue. Younger calf, weaned young, could be.

Don’t confuse the name hay belly with hay actually causing it though. It’s simply a lack of protein in a growing animal. Normally they’d get protein from milk but if they’re weaned early they need bumped into calf starter, grower or grain.

Predominantly hay belly is found in bottle calves.

A well started calf, weaned later with a good developed rumen shouldn’t have an issue.
Ye so youngest was weaned at 6 weeks and now 11 wks old so going through around 50ibs a day between 4 of them in 18% reared and barley
 

Agrivator

Member
All calves, including those on a high milk diet, need water to ensure a good rumen development. That's because most of the milk in suckled calves, or in calves on artificial teats, ends up in the stomach, rather than in the developing rumen.
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
All calves, including those on a high milk diet, need water to ensure a good rumen development. That's because most of the milk in suckled calves, or in calves on artificial teats, ends up in the stomach, rather than in the developing rumen.
Pretty sure that fermenting milk in the rumen is a bad thing?? That’s why it’s good too pour the milk and rattle buckets in front of them as it starts the Oesophageal groove closing too get the milk straight into the abomasum?
Water encourages calves too take calf starter and fibre on board. So yes in that respect you’re right, water leads too rumen development. Although I do have mine on limited water until 6 weeks too make sure no one gorges on cold water.
 

Agrivator

Member
Pretty sure that fermenting milk in the rumen is a bad thing?? That’s why it’s good too pour the milk and rattle buckets in front of them as it starts the Oesophageal groove closing too get the milk straight into the abomasum?
Water encourages calves too take calf starter and fibre on board. So yes in that respect you’re right, water leads too rumen development. Although I do have mine on limited water until 6 weeks too make sure no one gorges on cold water.

Exactly. But should the bucket be at floor level or at shoulder level.
 

Agrivator

Member
Does that make a difference?! I have mine hung at shoulder so I haven’t got too reach so far over th pen side too clean out!
If you want some bed-time reading!!!!!! It seems that milk protein causes the groove to close, so that the milk goes into the abomasum, which is a good thing.

And if the calf drinks water, the groove won't close, and the water goes into the developing rumen, which again is a good thing.

But if water is available and drunk straight after a milk feed, the groove is still open, and the water goes into the abomasum, and dilutes the milk, and prevents clotting, which is a bad thing.

 

Jdunn55

Member
I’ve been told that calves eating too Much hay can make them pot belly. Just wanted to get other people opinions on this
We started dairying this year and one of my many mistakes this year was feeding hay to young calves

Has given them an awful looking pot belly - they're quite happy in themselves and growing fine just looks naff

Now onto straw instead and they look much better imo and have a nice sheen to their coats as well
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
I’ve been told that calves eating too Much hay can make them pot belly. Just wanted to get other people opinions on this
Alot depends on the hay, rubbish hay will grow hair and belly and lovely hay is as good as meal. Feeding good hay before its 4-5mths stored in the barn will make them scour too.
 

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