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Post by Anita on Mar 28, 2008 10:54:26 GMT -5
We got our 2 heifers Wed. They are 3 1/2 and 4 months old. They were still nursing and we were told they would get 1/4 scoop of sweet feed 2X's a day and hay. How much should they be getting? today they started eating more grain and I gave them some calf manna. I just don't know how much to give. Should they have free choice or will that stop them from eating grass? I don't want them to scur and to top it off I think the oldest is in heat! She has a gunky rear and is holding her tail up at the base. I have been trying to find info but everything is geared to reg. size cows!
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Post by copperhead on Mar 28, 2008 15:03:16 GMT -5
Anita, I don't feed mine sweet feed, but if thats what they were eating, then thats probably what you should keep them on for starters. I use sweet feed sometimes mixed with 14% calf creep to get them started (they're kinda like kids, they like that sweet taste) and then wean them over to straight creep. I feed about 3/4 to 1 lb per calf. If they are still hungry, they will fill up on hay. The calf manna is good when they are first weaned, it helps keep the vitamins and calcium up for them. Usually the sack of feed will have a weight ratio printed on it, so that you can figure about how much the calf weights and then weigh the feed to get an idea of how much to give them. Just be sure to offer plenty of good quality hay. As for the heifer coming in, that seems a little young, even for Dexters. I don't know what to tell you there, but to watch and make sure she doesn't have an infection of some type. Not really to likely.
P.J.
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Post by Cloverbell on Mar 28, 2008 19:30:35 GMT -5
Hi Anita and welcome. The sweet feed will move right through them so don't increase that anymore and try to move them to a creep feed like P.J. suggested. One measuring cup of sweet feed should be enough in my opinion - it's just candy to them and will shoot right back out the same way it went in!
The gunky rear end is probably not being in heat, more like scours or some type of diahrrea since they've been weaned so early. Get the vet to check them out asap. Don't wait on that. More calves lost to scours than all other ailments combined.
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Honeycreek Dexters
member
All Natural Drug Free Grass Fed Beef, From Our Herd Sire Phoenix
Posts: 362
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Post by Honeycreek Dexters on Mar 29, 2008 0:07:03 GMT -5
The loose stool could be from several reasons from a change in brand name of feed to shipping fever( you said you just got them), alot of stress involved in their move being separated from there normal area, their mom, long or short trailer ride; their first one. If you can have the vet out do a stool sample to look for coccidia treat if needed. Treat for worms and any injections recommend by the local vet. They will eat bagged feed to the exclusion of everything else if you let them ---- don't. a scoop or so two times a day and free choice hay and plenty of good clean water with free choice loose minerals will see you some fine animals shortly. By the way your cows are regular sized cows, all cows are not the same size each breed is different, yours are just the smallest breed of regular cows, they are not miniatures they just aren't Brahmas or Holsteins or Char-lays. You can give a calf all of the nutrition he needs in about 2 lbs of feed a day, but then you need about 20 lbs more of hay to fill im up. Cows need grass or hay to keep their digestive systems working properly. One more piece of advice get a copy of Stories Guide to Cattle you can barrow it free at the libary.Good Luck
HCD
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Post by shakybob on Mar 29, 2008 16:35:16 GMT -5
It's not loose stools. They are fine. I noticed it a
little on Molly when we got her on Wed. Thur. it was worse, Fri. worse but today it is hardly noticeable but Holly the 3 1/2 month old has a little!! It's not bloody just mucus. I guess I will watch Holly and see if it gets better by Mon. They were chewing their cud tonight!!First time!!
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