Calf Care at Bristol County Agricultural High School
Calves are usually born in a calving pen where they stay with their mother’s for 24 hours. The mother’s first milk is called colostrum. Colostrum is filled with nutrients and antibodies that is crucial in the calf’s first couple of days. The calf is specifically given it’s mother’s milk for the first couple days so it can get all the nutrients it needs from the colostrum. Afterwards, the calf can be given milk from any of the cows in the barn. We often feed our calves through a bottle or bucket. They are given milk until they are about two months old.
Our calves are given calf grain and transitioned to heifer grain at about one and a half months of age. They are also started on corn silage at that age. Hay is also provided for them but they won’t begin actually eating it until about one and a half months of age. Once the calf is weaned off of milk at around two months of age they are transitioned into the transition barn. In the transition barn they are given three pounds of heifer grain per heifer. They are also given unlimited silage and hay so they can grow properly.
"New Born Baby Calf and Her Mother." YouTube, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBBMpq7Svgk>.
"Baby Calves." Baby Calves - Www.sunrockfarm.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <http://www.sunrockfarm.org/babycalf.html>.
"All Hay Is Not Equal: Choose Your Livestock's Carefully - Hobby Farms." All Hay Is Not Equal: Choose Your Livestock's Carefully - Hobby Farms. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/hay-feeding-14792.aspx>.
Calves are usually born in a calving pen where they stay with their mother’s for 24 hours. The mother’s first milk is called colostrum. Colostrum is filled with nutrients and antibodies that is crucial in the calf’s first couple of days. The calf is specifically given it’s mother’s milk for the first couple days so it can get all the nutrients it needs from the colostrum. Afterwards, the calf can be given milk from any of the cows in the barn. We often feed our calves through a bottle or bucket. They are given milk until they are about two months old.
Our calves are given calf grain and transitioned to heifer grain at about one and a half months of age. They are also started on corn silage at that age. Hay is also provided for them but they won’t begin actually eating it until about one and a half months of age. Once the calf is weaned off of milk at around two months of age they are transitioned into the transition barn. In the transition barn they are given three pounds of heifer grain per heifer. They are also given unlimited silage and hay so they can grow properly.
"New Born Baby Calf and Her Mother." YouTube, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBBMpq7Svgk>.
"Baby Calves." Baby Calves - Www.sunrockfarm.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <http://www.sunrockfarm.org/babycalf.html>.
"All Hay Is Not Equal: Choose Your Livestock's Carefully - Hobby Farms." All Hay Is Not Equal: Choose Your Livestock's Carefully - Hobby Farms. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/hay-feeding-14792.aspx>.