Post by mazurzoo on Dec 8, 2007 8:48:16 GMT -5
We plan on leaving Stormy on her mom until she's about a week and a half old, so maybe on Wednesday of next week we'll seperate and bottle feed. Today she is 6 days old. Last night she seemed hungry and again this morning, she is w/ mom Bella 24 hrs/day. So I thought just to be sure she's getting fed enuf I would take her a bottle, but I had to force her to even try it, and even then she didnt want it. So she must be getting enuf from Bella...right?
My real question is, how do I go about this seperatation when I plan on doing it next week? Currently they are locked in a 10X20ft pen together, seperate from the others. I have never gone through this before so need some advice!
One thought I have is,
"Option 1" keep them locked up until seperation, and then when its time to take seperate and bottle feed, maybe just leave the calf locked up in the pen and let the cow rejoin the herd. And then leave the calf in there a couple more weeks, to break the bond and get her bottle feeding? Which leads me to another question...if she has nursed 24/7 for a week and a half how long do I need to keep her from mom to break that bond so that she won't nurse?
I love the bond, it makes me sad to break it!
So could this be an option on a little calf like this...
"option 2" get those nose weaner rings put them on the calf and just let both rejoin the herd together? Would the mom still love and care for the calf if the calf cannot nurse?
We want to seperate so that we get lots of milk (with cream!). We will still feed the calf the moms milk but portion it out. So if she's about a week and a half old, how much does she get? I think I have heard 1-1.5 gallons a day, split in 3 feedings?
or an "option 3" I have thought of is to keep the calf locked up, but instead of bottle feeding 3 x's a day, just let the calf nurse 3 x's a day. 2x's would be after we milk, and then one more time in the middle of the day. This would probably cause "hold up" probs which I dont want.
Maybe there are better "options" that I have not considered? Please offer your advice!
My real question is, how do I go about this seperatation when I plan on doing it next week? Currently they are locked in a 10X20ft pen together, seperate from the others. I have never gone through this before so need some advice!
One thought I have is,
"Option 1" keep them locked up until seperation, and then when its time to take seperate and bottle feed, maybe just leave the calf locked up in the pen and let the cow rejoin the herd. And then leave the calf in there a couple more weeks, to break the bond and get her bottle feeding? Which leads me to another question...if she has nursed 24/7 for a week and a half how long do I need to keep her from mom to break that bond so that she won't nurse?
I love the bond, it makes me sad to break it!
So could this be an option on a little calf like this...
"option 2" get those nose weaner rings put them on the calf and just let both rejoin the herd together? Would the mom still love and care for the calf if the calf cannot nurse?
We want to seperate so that we get lots of milk (with cream!). We will still feed the calf the moms milk but portion it out. So if she's about a week and a half old, how much does she get? I think I have heard 1-1.5 gallons a day, split in 3 feedings?
or an "option 3" I have thought of is to keep the calf locked up, but instead of bottle feeding 3 x's a day, just let the calf nurse 3 x's a day. 2x's would be after we milk, and then one more time in the middle of the day. This would probably cause "hold up" probs which I dont want.
Maybe there are better "options" that I have not considered? Please offer your advice!