A calf’s second feed

[lazy farmer]

No it doesn't. Tube with 4 litres at birth then skip next feed and they take to the teat fine. Very common system in N.America. The only problem calves are the ones that have suckled the cow.

Cobblers. Not at all stressful on the calf if done correctly. You must be doing it wrong.

Have you asked them whether it’s stressful or not ?

 

[Beef farmer]

Have you asked them whether it’s stressful or not ?

Careful going down that route.

 

[lazy farmer]

Careful going down that route.

I love a fact. If there’s proof it’s not stressful then great.

 

[Beef farmer]

I love a fact. If there’s proof it’s not stressful then great.

Dont seperate calves from cows then, let them self wean at 10 months old.

 

[lazy farmer]

Dont seperate calves from cows then, let them self wean at 10 months old.

Nah that’s even more stressful.

 

[Beef farmer]

Nah that’s even more stressful.

Have you asked them? ?? cows/calves will self wean.

 

[Beef farmer]

End of the day you have to do what fits with your time schedules and farm system.
We tube every calf without fail, and wont change that

 

[lazy farmer]

Have you asked them? ?? cows/calves will self wean.

Agreed that is a natural process with its own stresses putting a tube down a calves throat as a first choice is questionable to then dismiss without any creditable evidence shouldn’t go unchallenged.

 

[Beef farmer]

Agreed that is a natural process with its own stresses putting a tube down a calves throat as a first choice is questionable to then dismiss without any creditable evidence shouldn’t go unchallenged.

But to GUARANTEE the calf has 3l of quality colostrum to set said calf up for a healthy life whether that be milking or dairy beef can not go unnoticed.

 

[lazy farmer]

But to GUARANTEE the calf has 3l of quality colostrum to set said calf up for a healthy life whether that be milking or dairy beef can not go unnoticed.

Totally agree that’s we quarantine to bottle feed every calf born. We employ a calf rearer to take them on at a day old so We have enough time to bottle feed all the new ones whether it’s 1 or 15 in a day. Numbers born are all relative

 

[Beef farmer]

Totally agree that’s we quarantine to bottle feed every calf born. We employ a calf rearer to take them on at a day old so We have enough time to bottle feed all the new ones whether it’s 1 or 15 in a day. Numbers born are all relative

So you go out at 10pm nothing, then at 5am there is 25 calves all running about, half have sucked 1l from a cow so dont want to suck from a bottle, 2 are still wet and will suck like a dream and the other 11 just want to fight you because your scary. What do you do?

 

[Ducati899]

So you go out at 10pm nothing, then at 5am there is 25 calves all running about, half have sucked 1l from a cow so dont want to suck from a bottle, 2 are still wet and will suck like a dream and the other 11 just want to fight you because your scary. What do you do?

Go AYR and live the dream fella ?

 

[multi power]

I only tube them the first feed and would rather they would “suckle” their second as I think it’s important to take some saliva in. Anything calving at 2pm would just get their 10% LW of colostrum, I don’t intend to start feeding calves at 9pm.

I tubed 3l into an Aberdeen Angus calf at 6pm last night and it wasn’t keen on suckling the bottle at 9am today. But I wouldn’t say one breed is worse than another here. What mineral could they be deficient in?

Get rid of the tube, bottle feed the correct amount and temperature of colostrum and you will find they are more interested in the next feed

 

[lazy farmer]

So you go out at 10pm nothing, then at 5am there is 25 calves all running about, half have sucked 1l from a cow so dont want to suck from a bottle, 2 are still wet and will suck like a dream and the other 11 just want to fight you because your scary. What do you do?

Feed my cows so they don’t calve in the night.
That way I will only an avg of two a night

 

[multi power]

That's why I always tube them. 4trs in a couple of minutes as opposed to 20. Less stress for both calf and farmer.

But very little use to the calf

 

[Beef farmer]

Feed my cows so they don’t calve in the night.
That way I will only an avg of two a night

We always move the fence in the evening, but find as with nature cows calve just before sunrise as this gives them the dayight hours to get up and get going.

 

[som farmer]

We always move the fence in the evening, but find as with nature cows calve just before sunrise as this gives them the dayight hours to get up and get going.

no, I agree with l farmer, feed late afternoon, very very few calve overnight, they start about 6.00 am. Refused to believe it, till we tried it, it really does work !

 

[Beef farmer]

no, I agree with l farmer, feed late afternoon, very very few calve overnight, they start about 6.00 am. Refused to believe it, till we tried it, it really does work !

When do you calve? When does it get light when you calve?

 

[Headless chicken]

What time is evening for fence moving/ feeding?

 

[som farmer]

When do you calve? When does it get light when you calve?

it worked both aug/sept and this spring march/april. Certainly makes life a lot easier.