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Eastern NE KS | My goal is no weight loss and back on track to gaining. If your calves are losing weight, you need to change something. But I think that's why you posted!
Within an hour or two of separation my calves have eaten 1-1.5 lbs of their new feed. 95% come to the bunk and eat. The one or two skeptics may prefer not to join. I am in the corral providing pressure to the calves to walk to the bunk and join the crowd.
My feed is aromatic and attractive to the calves. For me, this is a light scattering of my best prairie hay topped with a grain mix that includes DDGS. The nutritional value is not my primary concern, being willing to stand at the bunk an at least nibble is the goal.
A little stockmanship pays here. The skeptical calf needs to see me but not be bothered by me. I need to wait until he wonders what his mates are eating. When he does, I will leave the pen without disturbing the group. My dog cannot help with this. She is too young and wants to move the group.
The picture is my group of 13 replacement heifers and 2 misfits that need time to grow to sale weight. These calves were sorted from 66 mates sent directly to salebarn. The picture was taken 30 minutes after separating from the cows.
No pre weaning creep used here but I have nothing against creep feed. I just haven't mastered the best timing preweaning and have had gluttonous eating to no eating across my groups.
Edited by Doug61 11/25/2024 09:00
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Weaning weight loss
