Thanks!

+James Davis for jerseys it is 2 bottles. 1 in the morning and one at night.

how many bags of milk replacer does a calf take before it is weaned?

2-3 bottles a day and 2 quart bottles to around the top

+bluegtturbo that's why we raise them, for the beef. They actually have a slight richer flavor than the meat you buy at the grocery store. We kept a whole steer for ourselves that we butchered and sold the rest at auction for slaughter. All in all, it cost us $2.35 a pound for a T-Bone and I don't know where else you can go to find meat that cheap.

+Casilyn Akins Yes the calves are gone.

Missy R well great video anyways😁😁

@Missy R Where did they go?

+No Telling if you have Jerseys calves like me, he wouldn't want to drink that much liquid in a day. That breed likes to consume more dry matter. I gave my calves 4 quarts of milk per day and free range of feed and water. Jerseys can begin eating calf starter feed as early as their first week of life. When they eat the feed the scours usually go away. If you feel the scours are bad, I would dose with kaopectate, give him a quart of electrolytes between morning and evening feedings, and get him on a 4 quart milk schedule. Either feeding him 2 quarts twice a day or 1 1/3 quarts 3 times a day. And make sure to get him on calf feed starter pronto. And yes, use .75 pounds milk replacer per 2 quarts water.

Angus cross beef calf. I have him up to 3 feedings a day at 12 oz dry matter and 2 qts of water per feeding. He has free choice grass and water. I let him run during the day with the other pairs on pasture. At night he goes in till he get's older to keep him safe from predators. I just purchased a bag of calf starter pellets today for him. I was told to wait till about 10 days of age and give him just enough to clean up in a 30 minute time frame once a day. I felt that was sound advice. My biggest concern that makes it seem I am being somewhat nitpicky is over the years I have noticed all of our beef calves that were bucket calves developed that "round gut". I've always disliked that. I was told that was also a signature side effect of bucket calves. I have had zero experience with dairy cattle. Do you see that same "round gut" effect on your Jerseys also? Thanks for replying to me. :-)

You mean with a bucket or a bottle? Please consult a vet for help.

+Kathy Garza I picked this up at my local feed store. You can also try looking at a fleet and farm store. A veterinarian can usually tell you what to look for when comparing brands.

A day*

You should feed a calf at least twice a day. If you can do it three times a day, even better. But, you just are getting 1 calf? I hope you have more cattle in the barn to keep it company. Herd animals need companionship. If they are lonely, they can become depressed and refuse to eat altogether. We always keep at least two calves at one time so that way they have a buddy to hang with.

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You could but it would have to be whole milk and you would want to heat it on the stove as calves like their milk warm. And, a calf would need a gallon of milk per day which would be costly over the long run. Milk replacer powder is a much more economical alternative. Plus, milk replacer has added minerals and nutrients for calves. You may wish to consult with a veterinarian before attempting to use store bought milk to make sure your calves are getting the proper nutrition.

@@MissyRGFHomestead We're just gonna buy one baby cow so I dont think there will be too big of a cost difference.

Yes you can in fact the pasteurization is beneficial to them. Whole milk has everything the calf needs and they will consume roughly 1 gallon a day. Also it does end up being more cost effective than the replacer so as long as the milk does not expire.

+nathan mcillwain they are not cows, they are bull calves. And yes, they probably did require that kind of sanitation back then considering that only 50 years ago average calf mortality rates ranged anywhere from 12.5% to 30.6% and today they range from 3.0% to 4.0%. Many records state that a calf without a cow to feed from back over a hundred years ago was as good as dead.