| Author |
Topic |
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
 Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 09:26:17 AM
|
Well the fateful day is about here. Time for Betsy to go on Her own nutrition wise. Between the chewed teats and the lack of milk I really need to superset Her from the udder.
What are you guys doing for extra mineral fir the calf? I will give Betsy some hi protein flax pellets with a little corn/oat mix and all the hay She wants but don't want to miss anything. She is conditioned so perfect right now . |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
NellieBelle
11217 Posts
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 09:34:00 AM
|
| I'm feeding Pumpkin the same as the girls. So when the new feed comes I will feed them a mixture of the organic grain/organic alfalfa pellets and the Hi phos Organic Premix and Redmond rocks, and of course their hay, but as you know I'm learning so, you need to hear from MaryJane. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
Edited by - NellieBelle on Dec 27 2014 09:34:30 AM |
 |
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 09:54:44 AM
|
| Thanks Janet. We are all learning! |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
|
chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 4:59:09 PM
|
| Annabelle turned 5 months today. I think its probably time to get her off the bottle. She grazes, has hay, a little grain. I just hate to do it with it getting colder. Is it bad if I wait a little longer? |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
|
|
|
NellieBelle
11217 Posts
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 5:14:13 PM
|
| I wouldn't think it would hurt a thing Victoria. If Annabelle's teats are doing okay and things are going well, you don't have to wean. I think MaryJane said in her book that she let's them nurse 4-6 months and longer. I think each calf is different. Perhaps someone else can give you more information. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
|
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 5:15:19 PM
|
| Hi Vicky! We have missed you big time. Hope things are going well. My feelings are with a five month old calf She should not need the bottle anymore, but if you want to continue with it let your heart do the leading! Sure won't hurt the georgous critter! |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
|
chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 7:55:25 PM
|
Yes, I think I will wait till the end of
February. When I do take away her bottle, let me know how you all think about this or if its not okay. I was going to start giving her instead of two quarts morning and evening, I would give her one quart morn and evening. Then after about a week, I would take to a half a quart for a week morn and evening. Then I will start watering it down till she says she doesn't like it anymore. How does that sound. |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
|
|
|
NellieBelle
11217 Posts
|
Posted - Dec 27 2014 : 8:48:18 PM
|
| Oh, I thought she was still nursing on momma, Sorry. I forgot you were bottle feeding her. Guess I do need to go to bed. You have been bottle feeding her all along. Where am I at? I went back and read your posts when you first got Annie. I think you are doing great Vicky. You know better than us how little Annie is doing and I would keep doing what your doing. Everything I've read is so endearing and she must have really grown. Thriving. Sounds like she is doing well on the hay and little grain, so she should transition okay. Sure looks like you've been doing a great job. Wished it wasn't so cold so we could get more pictures. Thanks for letting us know how Annabelle is progressing. Such a pretty girl. Time goes by so quickly. Can't wait for spring and new pictures of new calves and updates on all our cows. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
|
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 07:54:23 AM
|
| I am a thinking that will work just fine for the calf. You are such an awesome cow owner! You calf will thrive into a loving cow and give you tons of good times. Have you figured out your breeding program yet? AI or find a bull? |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
|
chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 09:12:21 AM
|
| I will start putting pics up. I think when the time comes Ron, she will have to be AI. There is not many mini's around here. A couple of weeks she is getting all checked out by the vet and shots. I just hate having to have the ear tag in her ear. I'm going to ask the vet if I can just hold on to it. She will never leave. I wont get rid of her. |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
|
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 09:20:00 AM
|
Great idea Vicky on the tag. It is your cow you do what you want! You might discuss breeding with Mary Jane. She got it all going on with the Jersey thing for sure! Only the best there for sure.
Good morning by the way. 🐮 |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
|
maryjane
7074 Posts
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 09:59:10 AM
|
Hi Vicky,
I wouldn't worry too much about getting her off the bottle as long as you're enjoying it. If she's getting and eating plenty of forage and concentrate (grain and/or alfalfa pellets), has a salt lick and minerals, she's old enough to be without "baby formula" but with it being so cold, I'd probably continue it (or slowly wean her from it) just to be on the safe side regarding nutritional needs.
Like Ron said, when you get ready to breed and need some mini Jersey semen, I can probably help you out once you find a good AI technician. I've collected Beau Vine and he's a very small Jersey. I put him with my smallest girl recently and I'm confident it's a good combo size-wise. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
|
|
|
chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 3:12:16 PM
|
| Thank you Maryjane. When the time comes your the one I will contact. Thank you everyone for the advice, trust me I take it all in. Its nice to be able to ask questions and get helpful answers. |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
|
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 3:48:55 PM
|
| Well Vicky that's what friends do! Sounds like you sure could teach us a thing or three too! |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
|
farmlife
1413 Posts
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 4:31:02 PM
|
| When we weaned our bottle calves we cut a feeding at a time. I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well they took it. In fact one morning my husband woke me up to tell me that he heard cows mooing down the road and he was sure they were ours because there was no way ours weren't complaining about not having their bottle. He was sure they had somehow escaped and were bothering the neighbors. I got up to check on them and found them laying down in their shelter calm as could be. However it works best for you is bound to be the right decision for you and Annie, though. |
|
|
|
chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
|
Posted - Dec 28 2014 : 8:50:20 PM
|
| Keeley that is a good idea also. I didn't think about that. Thank you |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
|
|
|
CloversMum
3486 Posts
|
Posted - Jan 03 2015 : 09:29:58 AM
|
| When we bottle-fed Clover, we did the same as Keeley did and cut out a feeding at a time. It was super easy and didn't seem to cause Clover much, if any, distress. Clover was definitely eating plenty of hay, pellets, and other supplements before we even began to wean. I enjoyed the closeness that developed through the bottle-feeding. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
|
|
|
chives
313 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
WA
usa
|
Posted - Jan 03 2015 : 6:05:01 PM
|
| I enjoy the closeness also. I just love giving her the bottle. The little moo I get when I call her. I think one feeding a day will be a good start. I'm still going to wait till winter is over. Maybe give her a sippy cup. lol |
A cow is the heart of a farm |
|
|
|
Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
|
Posted - Jan 03 2015 : 6:17:08 PM
|
| Awwwwww maybe a molasses grain ball. |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
![[flourish]](/images/flourish-txt_mobius.png)
Calf Mineral
![Heritage Jersey Organization [logo]](/images/HJO-logo.png){kind=logo}
