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Kingston,Mi | The sucking on a bottle cause a "flap" in the rumen to roll up and act as a trough that by passes the rumen as explained at a feed dealers school. I believe that they also need to have their head in a "up under the cow " position to help the flap to roll up. I feed them on the bottle for 2 weeks then transfer to the pail. About this time, I start to tease them with some calf starter by tossing a handful in the last of the pail. They are so used to working the pail over to get the last of the milk that they start the solid feed fairly easily. Each calf usally runs thru 50 pounds of milk in 8 weeks, I reduce the amount mixed after 6 weeks as they are in to the starter by then and have some good hay in front of them all day. Starting them in the winter I use the recommended extra powder, cheap insurance. Usally feed 10 to 20 a year and have done so for nearly 20 years, all in hutches. | |
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Bottle Calves
