cattle raising

I do not know what age you are, or if you have children old enough to join.... But 4-H clubs and FFA can be a wealth of info for raising livestock. I don't have any personal experience with FFA, but I was heavily involved in 4-H from age 6 (attended meetings with my older sister) up until I went to college, and I'm now involved thru my children. I *really* like the 4-H programs, can't think of a negative thing about them. We've been active in the equine, cattle, and poultry programs. Way back in the day, I was a force to be reckoned with in the hippology program - competed on the state level every year, best year was 2nd in the state in overall performance - too bad my mind has slowed down significantly since then! It's only been, ahem, cough, cough, a few decades since my last competition.

idk if I have time im in college now and its a load of work...im just now on break and starting back skool soon...

Oh a PM is Private Message, kinda the same as an email. That way if I'm not paying attention to this part of the forum, I'll get a notice that I have a PM in my inbox so you have a way to get in touch with me.

oh okay thanks!!

glad to have met u my name is cha by the way )

littlebluefarm said:

oh okay... thanks... I heard the other way around...that dairy cows doesn't taste as good as meat cows....and idk if they will ever get as big as meat cows... wat do u feed urs to get them fat?

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The meat from well raised dairy breed steers is some of the best you will ever eat. The meat is very fine grained and lovely flavor.

The negatives for dairy breeds is that their feed conversion is not good, so unless you have cheap feed, the meat costs you more. They take longer to get to butchering size. Holstein steers are best butchered at close to 3 years, as opposed to 2 years for Beef breeds, The fat on Jerseys tends to be quite yellow. It's different looking but very tasty.

OP, when I raised a Jersey calf, I started him in a very small pen inside a barn, with a heat lamp. They are small and delicate and without their mother, they can get chilled. The pen was made out of bales of straw and he barely had room to stand and turn around. If you look at dairies, the bottle calves are started in extremely small calf pens. That is not cruelty; that is what gives them the best chance of survival.

You must buy the really expensive calf milk replacer. The cheap stuff is made of grain and it will scour your calves. Half the price for the milk replacer is no bargain if your calves die from it.

Most bottle calves will need antibiotic and you should have antibiotic on hand to give immediately if the calf scours. They can die in the time it takes you to drive to the feed store. Again, spring for the higher cost of a good type of antibiotic. Cheap antibiotic is no bargain if your calves die.

Milk must be given at body temperature. Take the recommended amount of milk and split it into 2-3 feedings so feedings are small. If you give multiple small feedings spread out over the day, you reduce the risk of scours.

I would only buy calves directly from the dairy. Never from the auction and never from a broker. Most dairies will put your name on a waiting list and call you when they have a calf for you. You must go and pick it up immediately, or they will call the next person on the list.

thank you now I noe how they died...I just google calf scours... I think that's what mine had... I had mine out in a dog kennel and it was in the cold too... I thinks that's also what killed them... ( but thanks for the information now I noe... I wont let it happen again.... but until then ill have to look more into the reading....)