Feeding dairy X beef calves on adlib milk

[Milkcow365]

Any tips for feeding calves adlib milk Im hoping to start selling at market so want them looking really well, do people give them water to or just milk? Also calf nuts is it worth while feeding them if they are going at 3,/4 weeks?

 

[Princess Pooper]

Any tips for feeding calves adlib milk Im hoping to start selling at market so want them looking really well, do people give them water to or just milk? Also calf nuts is it worth while feeding them if they are going at 3,/4 weeks?

It is illegal not to give them water. They need it for rumen development no matter how much milk they have. Also if you do not feed any nuts it will delay rumen development. Some one seeing a strong 3 week old calf in a market pen which is already cudding knows the job of weaning has been started already. If your calves take a check at weaning as their rumens are entirely undeveloped when they are bought then no one will want to buy from you again. Pity the poor rearer who has to deal with a calf fed only ad lib milk on arrival at his unit - they will go backwards from day 1. We sell ours at market at 5 weeks they are on 10l milk a day which is not far off what yours will drink ad lib, but they have cake from a few days old, water and long fibre. They often top the market.

 

[pine_guy]

Any tips for feeding calves adlib milk Im hoping to start selling at market so want them looking really well, do people give them water to or just milk? Also calf nuts is it worth while feeding them if they are going at 3,/4 weeks?

Think legally you'll have to offer them clean water, wether they drink any is another mater. Same with the pellets I would think, but nice for the next guy if they know what they are when he just gives it a couple of litres each end of the day

If I milked I think that is what I would do with my calves. They always look great and sell well. What people do with them I have no idea, but that isn't your problem as long as they come back for more

 

[Milkcow365]

Thanks for replies,il give them water and cake then, the past year my calves have been going at 2 weeks so water and cake wasn't so crucial ok I gave them water (not) so keeping them past this is new to me so all tips handy