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WY, OK | If it is a heifer it is well worth taking a calf off an old cow and adopting it, aside from the opportunity cost that heifer has they are also dumb enough most will adopt any calf with no issues. We will keep several old cows with no or few teeth just to adopt the calf to a heifer if the timing turns out right. You'll get the same price for that cow and have saved a heifer that otherwise will get sold and be out of production. As for actually adopting, if the heifer or cow has the calf and it is dead we put the after birth on the "new" calf, if they lose a calf a few days after being alive you can pen them next to each other then put them together after a day, if the cow kicks the calf off then we catch her and let the calf suck her down then pen them again. Once the milk has run through they almost always accept them. We've also had some luck with that calf scent bottle stuff that is sold at most ag stores.
With today's prices of cows and heifers it is well worth trying to get a calf on them if they lose one. | |
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Calf grafting question.
