Post by rd200 on Sept 3, 2015 13:55:33 GMT -5
Curious when you all completely wean your calves?
My calf is about 4.5months old. She's an absolute TANK- Milking shorthorn X Jersey- She pretty much gets mom 24/7 yet. Except when I need milk, then I separate them for about 12 hours overnight and then she goes with mom the rest of the time. I used to separate more frequently, but the past few weeks have been super crazy busy w/some family stuff going on, so she's only been separated maybe twice a week the past month.
I thinking I'm going to more consistently separate her from mom for 12hrs so that she starts eating more Hay/ grazing more. I see her eat a little here and there, and she'll graze with mom but she certainly isn't hungry at all after drinking free choice all day and night. I'm hoping to wean her completely in about 1.5-2 months. I know that's probably a bit too long to stay on the cow, but the convenience factor of having the calf to "milk" the cow if I'm not around is great!
Are there any negatives to leaving her on that cow that long? I know their Rumen doesn't develop as rapidly when they are completely milk fed. (She does eat hay & grass, just not a lot considering her age & weight). I don't plan to feed grain at all. The cow never had any as a calf/heifer and did great, and the calf is beautiful and healthy and huge so no reason to feed her any that I can see....(other than maybe for training purposes. still trying to halter train the stubborn girl) (cow gets a little grain now for milking)
How long do you think they will need to be separated for her to be fully weaned? I'm not sure how I'm going to keep them apart yet. id love for the calf to go out in the pasture too but don't have a way to separate them in the pasture without them running thru fences to get to each other. So the calf will have to stay in the barn most of the time during the weaning process. However, it'll be a lot colder by then, So I don't think she'll mind.
And I'm still on the fence about keeping or selling her. So, obviously she needs to be weaned & transitioned for me to sell her. And Id like to make that decision by October/November.
Thanks!