Meet the newest members of our family!!!!!!

[Hotwings]

They are very cute. I am assuming you are raising these guys for meat? I think dairy cows are always so close to people cause the majority or them are handraised. I guess it is due to the milk production. I hardly ever see a dairy cow raise and nurse her offspring. Is there anyone out there that has a dairy cow and has bred her and let her raise her calf? I know alot of beef cattle raise their own, but they aren't dairy cows.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

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You don't see dairy cows raising their own calves because we milk the cows. The calves get milkreplacer and the milk from mom gets sold so you can buy milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, etc.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

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Quit bottle feeding them! Mine go on pails at 2-3 days old. By 8 weeks they should be eating grain and some hay and you can be weining them. Although if it is real cold where you are at you can keep them on milkreplacer through the cold weather to give them an added boost. I also would not have guessed them to be that old but, it is hard to tell size when they are the only thing in the photo to compare too!

Just looked where you are. Those calves aren't going to need milkreplacer if you can get them eating grain and hay. They will also fill out better on grain.

 

[BearSwampChick]

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It's illegal in Ohio, too. You have to buy a share of a cow. My son and DIL own a 1/4 share and pay a monthly fee.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

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It's illegal in Ohio, too. You have to buy a share of a cow. My son and DIL own a 1/4 share and pay a monthly fee.

That's what they do here in WI too! I don't have to worry though-one advantage of being a dairy farmer!

 

[theOEGBman]

They are so CUTE!!!

Its hard to find something cuter than a calf. We used to raise them for meat, but we havent had one since my grandpa died 7 years ago. They are adorable though. I've been begging my mom for a cow, but she wont budge,lol.

 

[Katy]

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I generally name anything we plan on butchering something similar......helps me remain a little more detached from them.

 

[chickenranchwife]

From experience with raising bucket calves it's easier on you to switch them over to the bucket and get them off the bottle. It's faster, and easier on your back. They're really cute! Enjoy the calves!

 

[jab91864]

Too cute !!!

I try not to name anything I may have to eat later on...lol, just a tip.

Julie

 

[suenrob]

Thanks for all the tips!!!!! I was bottle feeding only because I thought it was cute, and the grandkids loved doing it!!!! They are eating grain and hay and drinking milk from a bucket now (yes, it is easier on the back)
It was DH's idea to get the calves to raise for food. I agreed to take care of them, but made no promises about eventually eating them.....makes me cry to even think about it