30 pound calf

[CattleRMe]

I guess this is the year for odd things at this place. Last night a calf was born weighing in at maybe 30 pounds. It's adorable the size of a small pygmy goat. He sucks like mad at a bottle. His mama got another calf as this one will have to be kept in and mothered and babied a ton. The key is going to be that none of us get attached as I'm thinking it will be touch and go for the little fella. Talk has already been if it gets any colder it's moving in the house. :?


Anyone kept a calf this small alive to fall?

 

[kolanuraven]

Got 2 right now myself. Twins...one about 20 lbs and the other about 25 or so.....


Have raise itty bitty ones like that, just pace the feeding so they don't get that swelly belly look..... I've got one that was about 32 lbs @ birth...I kept her till this day and last time we weighed her she clocked in at 1500lbs!!!

A lot depends on the baby....but w/ time and care you should be able to pull it out

 

[passin thru]

I had one once, it's hair was like velvet. I helped him for a week or so and he had no more problems. It was funny watching him nurse as he could barely reach. The weather was mild and at weaning you could barely tell.

 

[George]

I have a neighbor who raises " Miniture Angus" so cute. But I see no real market except the other crazys that want something small. They look to be about 30# at birth and the cows top out about 500# with their bulls about 750#.

They have few problems with the cattle but they are treated as pets. I don't know if this relates to small calves from normal cattle but they are always looking for calves like what you have if they are out of pure angus and have been known to pay several hundred dollars for the very small calves - - - some stay small and are kept but the ones that grow are sold off.

I should not make fun as in the 1970s we had about 400 miniture horses - - - made great money for about 5 years and the market went away so we sold all of them. Fun to have around when the market was good but did not stay when the market left. Much like the pot bellied pigs.

 

[PPRM]

I have calves that are pretty small, but not that small. But some I would guess at a 50-60 pound Birthwieght. I see Bull Sales where 100 lb calves weaned at 600 pounds and 80 pound calves weaned at 750 pounds.....

I just sold some tail enders to Tyson........1312 lbs live wt, dressed 840 pounds.....Was only 4 head, but all of them were Choice 2's...........


What has this cow raised in the past??? If the calf is sucking hard and getting around great, I see no reason to pull it off.......I'd have given it a try on mom,


PPRM