OT, getting calves on corn

When calves are real young, mix some milk replacer with calf starter in your hand, and try to get them to eat it. Then leave some starter for them to try. Eventually, they will eat it without the milk replacer. Then start mixing starter / grower with more and more ground corn.

After a few months, it's all ground corn, with a supplement pellet mixed in. I always just mixed in the pellets as I fed it. It ended up being a large tin can of pellets to a 5-gallon pail of feed. Offer them hay also.

I always just pinched the nut-sack. Never had any problems. Neighbor had a one-nutter one time, that caused all sorts of problems. Dehorned at the same time. Had the vet come out and do it. Cheap enough. Did this probably at about 3 months old.

I miss having calves...

If not when ever they will eat corn get them on it. Slowly at first,3 or 4 lbs a day.Maybe cut the starter with some corn. And get an implant in them to make up for the hormones they are lacking because of the band.

With the corn get some protein pellets in the corn. 1/2 lb a day of a 32%.

If they are organic, I give up.

Also all the hay they can eat.

Gary

Banding is a lot less stressful on the calves - just make sure you get both...otherwise, you'll have to go back later with a knife, and that will knock the fellers for a loop.

Most producers I've talked to either really like or hate banding - seems like there's not much middle ground. Growing up, Dad always cut any bull calves (bottle or feeder size) we bought, but a couple friends always band.

Nathaniel

What did you band the horns?

Gary

Gary