The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: country soul on December 02, 2011, 12:44:58 pm

Title: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: country soul on December 02, 2011, 12:44:58 pm

Heres my plan, getting two dairy cross heifer calves probably simmental or beligian blue crosses dependent on what local farmer has at time.They would be around 3 to 4 weeks old
Aiming to feed then on teated buckets with a good milk replacer
Housing,  well ventilated ,new barn
Feed calf pellets.plus hay or straw?
wean around the 8 week mark or when eating enough dry food
turn out  in late spring on to grass
Spend alot of time leaning on gate looking at them!
What do you think? any advice welcome

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: acorn zwartbles on December 02, 2011, 05:06:30 pm

sounds like a good plan, i do this using my jersey to rear them. Had some lovely calves and have really enjoyed raising them. Laura

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: Rosemary on December 02, 2011, 07:41:55 pm

Feed straw from day one - helps get the rumen working  :)

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: VSS on December 02, 2011, 09:52:45 pm

Rosemary is spot on about the straw.

I would go for the blue crosses in preference to Sims. The blues are really docile and easy to handle - and would make a good house cow should you decide that a milk cow is for you.

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: princesspiggy on December 02, 2011, 11:34:34 pm

what age will u eat them? (if thats ur plan)

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: country soul on December 03, 2011, 12:18:53 pm

thanks for the interest guys
it looks like they will be b/blue crosses ,simmis are out of stock! Should be arriving after christmas.One thing I havent thought about is dehorning so will have to sort that out.It is my intention to sell them in autumn next year rather than keep them through their second winter.I'll try and post some pics when they arrive

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: VSS on December 03, 2011, 09:49:42 pm

It is possible they might be ready to dehorn by four weeks old - if so get the chap you are buying them from to do it for you.

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: SallyintNorth on December 04, 2011, 12:29:03 am

Sounds like a good plan. 

BH has bucket-reared calves all his life - he reckons to get them at no less than a month old, give each calf one sack of milk replacer, which tends to work out at they get weaned around three months. 

We now have a Jersey house cow and she rears bought-in calves as well as supplying the house.  Again, I have found that it's best to keep them on milk (plus hay / straw and cake to appetite) to three months or so.  We have also found that we've been able to buy them in a little younger - two weeks old - if they are going onto milk from the cow, rather than the powdered stuff.

Let us know how you get on!

Title: Re: Finally decided to get some calves
Post by: country soul on December 04, 2011, 09:13:43 am

thanks for the  advice on de horning VSS,will let you know how i get on.May be the next step would be to follow Sally's route and buy a jersey!