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Feeding Calves

Richard Doolittle

Well-known member
I weaned and kept my calves this year for the first time. I don't have much experience feeding calves. They have been weaned nearly 30 days and are doing well. I'm feeding soy hull pellets at 5 lbs/day and about 15 lbs of loose hay. I've started them on sorghum/millet hay--I planted it together and with the dry summer it didn't get real tall so it is pretty fine and leafy and the calves eat it well. My question is this: I only have about 10 days of this hay left and then will have to switch them over to either pretty good alfalfa, alfalfa grass mix, or some first cutting alfalfa that is fairly weedy. Which feed is best for calves and do I have to gradually switch them over to the new feed? They've been doing quite well and I'd hate to screw up their systems now.
 

WyomingRancher

Well-known member
I've been feeding my replacement heifers alfalfa/grass mix and have gotten along well. I've had to feed straight alfalfa to calves in past years, but prefer an alfalfa/grass hay when I can get it.
 

Sundancer

Well-known member
I have found that the more grass in the hay the better. I usually background some calves each year on corn silage and hay and I get along best with first cutting hay that is a mix of alfalfa, brome, timothy and some fescue. I have tried 2nd or 3rd cutting grass mix hay but find that the calves like it so will that they will back off the silage. With the coarser grass hay and silage mix they seem to ruminate well and enjoy life! I find that with straight alfalfa of good quality, which they love to eat, ends up making them pretty loose out the back end. :cry: Any change in diet is best done gradually. Now that the weather is some what settled as far as temperature swings are concerned, the least amount of stress possible is the best medicine for those critters. Weaning, weather, diet change are all pretty tough things for those babies to deal with. Hopefully, at 30 days post weaning, you "should" be safe :D
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Calves aren't very experienced in digesting hay, so the more fine the hay is for them, the better. Sounds like you are getting along good. Too bad you have to switch them. Like Sundancer said, change them gradually.
We need to remember that we are not in the cattle feeding business, but rather the RUMEN feeding business. It's all about keeping the rumen healthy. Switching feed quickly can result in all kinds of problems.

Good luck!!
 
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