More calf advice needed please.

[Dangerous Dan]

We have recently started calf rearing on a small scale. Talking about 35 in at highest count. Idea was to get them in around 2 week old, get them to weaning, give them a week or two to adjust and then send them to auction. First batch went well, last two batches not so well. I know there are many many possible factors in calf price but we were wondering how straw affects calf diet.

The reason I'm asking...... First batch was 3.AAx.hfrs + 3 Hereford x hfrs. When weaned, they ate pellets like stink. Literally as soon as they went in the feeder, calves were all over it, usually clearing the lot before moving away.

This last batch which was 2.seperate pens worth included AAx bull, B/W bull, BRBx bull and 6 AAx. Hfrs. All putting straw away but not really pounding on the pellets. Bulls were a good size but not full bellied if that makes sense.

I was always under the impression that it was good for calves to always have straw and cake under their noses...... Are we doing wrong by this? Should we not be putting as much straw down meaning they will eat more cake come weaning? What are your thoughts please.......

T. I. A

 

[HarryB97]

Ours get bedded down every day with a couple of conventional bales as well as straw in racks, they're on ad lib milk upto 14 litre a day at peak and still happily eat the pellets even before we start weaning them! We put a couple of scoop fulls of pellets a day in their feaders and gradually increase this to add lib over the whole process. Have you changed the brand of pellets at all or weaning them sooner than you were before?

 

[Zippy768]

First point, can you not sell them when they are a bit older? I find they have a spell once weaned before they really start packing on the weight.
Secondly they have to be eating the solids before they are weaned. You have to wean by weight eaten not age. Sorry. What are the solids you offer?

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

If you want to do the calves well , as I suspect you will need to , if you are going to offer them for sale that early, more milk for longer and only wean them when they are really keen on there pellets and taking plenty. Sometimes difficult to assess on an individual basis when they are in batches. Also keep them warm now the weather is wintery. We make little "dens" within the shed for the calves to get tucked up in.

 

[scatterbrainedlass]

First point, can you not sell them when they are a bit older? I find they have a spell once weaned before they really start packing on the weight.
Secondly they have to be eating the solids before they are weaned. You have to wean by weight eaten not age. Sorry. What are the solids you offer?

We think that holding onto them for a couple more weeks is probably the best option for us, maybe play with milk quantities too. We're using ForFarmers VitaStart pellets right now, but would be open to trying alternatives. Some people seem to do well with coarse mixes but ours wouldn't touch it and preferred the pellets!