How to Take Care of a Dairy Feeder Calf

More than 4 million bull calves are born to dairy breeds each year with dairy beef constituting about 5 percent of the total beef produced in the U.S., according to the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. Only a handful of dairy feeder calves are needed for breeding, so they are a great potential for meat production. Most health problems of dairy feeder calves can be minimized with proper care, including low-stress handling, proper and timely vaccinations, prompt treatment from any illness, clean and dry housing, and a regular feeding schedule with adequate nutrition.

Things You'll Need

  • Hutch
  • Fence
  • Water bowl
  • Salt block
  • Vaccines
  • Dewormer
  • Dehorning iron
  • Milk replacer
  • Feed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare a place to keep your calf safe from the elements. Individual hutches separating calves reduce the spread of disease and make it easier to observe behavior. Keep well-ventilated but not drafty with clean and dry bedding straw replaced regularly.

    • 2

      Provide enough outside fenced-in lot space for your calf to exercise and graze.

    • 3

      Provide clean, fresh water separately from milk for rumen development with a trace mineralized salt block.

    • 4

      Apply regular vaccines and dewormer with the assistance of a veterinarian. Vaccinate at least once before weaning for Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Bovine Viral Diarrhea.

    • 5

      Feed with milk replacer when less than 8 weeks old. Introduce starter feed with coccidiostat after 10 days. Keep feeding high-energy feed up to 20 weeks during the weaning process.

    • 6

      Dehorn when 2 to 10 weeks old with a hot dehorning iron. A local anesthetic is recommended for animals older than 10 weeks.