OT, getting calves on corn

[Dave from MN]

from starter and grower. At what age should I let my calves go to shelled corn. Currently have a few on starter and milk yet. Have a few weaned ones that have been inhaling Purina Growena and I dont think I am gonna make any profit buying the stuff to feed them. So, can I get the older ( about 2 months old, going on shelled corn?? Do I need to give them any other pellets or supplements?? What are some of you all's feeding programs. They are red holstiens and swedish red's. Banded bull calves.

 

[IaGary]

Are these organic 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

 

[Dave from MN]

Not organic, come from healthy dairy farm, well cared for here, about as tame as our family dog. So how much do them implant hormones cost? Would I be better off NOT banding them, and have them nutted later on?

 

[IaGary]

Sorry I thought you banded the sack.

What did you band the horns?

Gary

 

[Formerly PaMike]

I grow Holstein calves just like you do. If you are worried about feed cost how about looking into some options like distillers grain and soy hulls. I feed some this winter a 50% mix of distillers and soy hulls. Fed it at 3 lbs a day with free choice hay. The calves were just off milk when I started them on this mix. If worked well, and was economical. Shell corn should work well too. The small holsteins need a fair amount of energy to grow well.

 

[Clint Youse MO]

We use pourina Stocker grower as a creep feed and then a blend with corn then switch to a corn protien ration like gary is talking

We use Purina Natural 32 protien at a rate of 1lb per day per animal (read the tag different manufactures are different amounts) and then start them on about 5 lb of corn per animal and free range hay this is for just fat calves or hiefers show calves get a special blendwe also use a little mollasses to the corn to sweeten it up a little. Do not worry about castrating them early we cut w/ knife at 1 to 3 days old

 

[Dave from MN]

Yes, I did band the nuttsack, at 1 week. Horns will be burned here real quick on the ones that are ready. A couple people said not to band them young, because they wont have the broad chest and will gain slower. What is your experience. I personally dont like the idea of a hlostien with his nutts intact, cant trust em, tame or not. Just like this crop growing thing, I'm coming in a bit green, forgot all my uncle taught me when I was a teen.

 

[IaGary]

With the band on the sack it will all fall off no need to nut them.

Gary

 

[Clint Youse MO]

when you band them just make sure you get both they will still gain and you can implant them like Gary said if you are worried about it implants are cheap

 

[NBAllen]

Can't speak to whether banded or not will grow better, but...

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

 

[Lee in Iowa]

I use a bander from a company called Inosol(www.inosol.com) its relatively simple and inexpensive, and you can do large cattle. I've done up to 800 pounders, just make sure you give them an antitetanus shot when you band them. Lee

 

[Anonymous-0]

I always ground my corn. Way too much whole corn coming out the other end if it wasn't ground.

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...