Calf Rearing Guide

Many people think raising calves is an easy task. It's not. It takes a lot of hard work to get a calf ready for market. Whether there are several calves in the herd or one orphan calf being bucket fed, calf rearing takes time, money and energy. It's also necessary that the calves have ample room to grow as well as an adequate food and water supply.

  1. Young Calves

    • Young calves get all the food they need from their mothers. For the first few days, cow's milk has colostrum, which has added nutrients and natural antibodies the calf needs to survive. If the calf is a bucket calf, it's important that his early feedings contain colostrum from another source, such as another cow that is also nursing a newborn calf.

    Feeding

    • For the first week, the bucket calf needs feeding at least twice a day. He needs a high-quality milk replacer mixed with water. Put the mixture in a nippled container, such as a bottle or bucket with a special nipple, large enough to hold two quarts. Sometimes a bucket calf rejects the nipple at first, but with a little encouragement and firm handling, he can soon figure out that the milk replacer is good to eat. As the calf grows, he needs more milk. Following the guidelines on the milk replacer packaging can help ensure the calf gets the proper amount of milk. Within a couple of weeks, the calf will be able to drink from a pan and will no longer need to drink from a nippled container. As the calf gets older, he can eat grass or hay as part of his feed rations. A good supply of water should always be available.

    Weaning

    • While it's not unusual for calves reared on their mothers to stay with them for six to nine months, it's possible to wean calves at a much younger age provided they still receive adequate nutrition for them to thrive. Before weaning a calf, it's important that his rumen system, or his stomachs, can handle solid foods such as grass and hay.

    Cleanliness

    • To prevent the spread of disease, it's important when raising calves to keep their lot as clean as possible. If they are in close confinement, they should have ample amounts of straw and bedding to keep them dry. If the calves have the run of the pasture, cleanliness is not much of an issue unless there is overcrowding.

    Health

    • During the calf rearing process, the calves need veterinary attention. Males should undergo castration unless they are going to be breeding stock. Both males and females should have shots to prevent blackleg, or clostridial, disease. Females should have Brucellosis vaccinations. The veterinarian who handles the herd can also recommend any other necessary shots.