o/t angus calves

greenmachineman · Aug 18, 2011

guys sorry for the off topic post but I know you guys can give me the answers I am looking for. I was offered two female angus calves for free... I have worked on a farm when I was younger so I know the basics. I have a house with a barn and land where I can make a small pasture for them as well. What are your recommendations for feeding (besides hay) and frequency? I work during the day so would feeding in the morning and evenings be alright? Thank you in advance for any advice/recommendations.

IBorange in TX · Aug 18, 2011

You did not mention the age of these calves. If baby calves, feeding twice a day would be okay, if you keep out a small amount of Calf chow or like feed for in between feeding. If "day old"calves,then somewhat different. They must be placed together or at least be able to see,hear each other. Have tried to feed orphan calves one at a time, they usually die. So tried two calves at the same time, those lived. Doing the same feed program.
Keep out clean water at all times.
If bottle feeding calves, keep bottles extremely clean, better for one bottle for a certain calf.
BTDT and it is a worry until they get a couple of months old.
Good Luck with them,

greenmachineman · Aug 18, 2011

I will have to double check but I believe they are 3 months old.

wijim · Aug 18, 2011

Talk with local co-op or feed mill they will mix up a ration based on qualty of pasture and hay. Jim

jackinok · Aug 18, 2011

bottle calves will need tending every 3-4 hours just like a baby.after they start eating on their own checking them twice a day is ok, keep hay out of course.mainest thing you want to watch for is scours,the younger the calf the faster it will die.after they are eating good on heir own put them out to pasture.What i figure is one cow,or cow/calf ,to every ten acres to keep them year round ( my area).if you dont have that,you can get by with less by keeping them a shorter time, or if have really good grass,and /or supplemental feed.if you only have a real small place,and these were bottle calves,i would have them at the sale barn the instant they started eating good on their own. heres an idea,pick them up on the day the sale barn closest to you is open ,dont even go by the house take them straight there. ever hear of the words free money?

LAA · Aug 18, 2011

Young calves need a ration containing approximately 18% protein, I would go to the local feed store and get a sack of calf creep pellets and a sack of shell corn, calves will eat more pellets and whole corn than they will ground feed when young. Get the best hay available in your area, Alfalfa or good leafy grass hay, put out a salt block and a little ground limestone in the pasture.

randallnMo · Aug 18, 2011

3 month old "Free" calves? 'Better check that out. He may just be needing someone other than himself to dispose of the "soon to be" carcasses. Feeding them is easy, just keep (good) free choice hay or grass and water in front of them at all times. 'Might want to give them a couple pounds of grain a day. Have a vet come by in a couple months and give them the necessary shots. Actually, it wouldn't hurt to have him come by now and look at them and give them whatever he thinks they might need.

jackinok · Aug 18, 2011

even better yet,they are worth WAY more in your freezer!call a local butcher,and haul them straight there,50 cents a pound compared to 3-9 at the grocery store,is money in the bank anytime.any reason as to why the owner is giving them away?

LorenMN · Aug 18, 2011

Butcher at 3 months? I'd wait until 18 months myself.

jackinok · Aug 18, 2011

i would to ,IF i were raising them to butcher.but if you didnt have the place to keep them,the time,the funds etc, aint much better beef than a baby calf.especially one thats free.I would like to know the story on why they were being given away.unless i knew the feller pretty good,think i would ask for a bill of sale.lot of rustling going on,might be the leftovers from some pairs some one appropriated from the neighbors.no accusations of course.

greenmachineman · Aug 18, 2011

He is a friend of the family I have know him for years so I do trust him. The story is a couple that lives by him bought them to raise for beef and realized they didn't want to put up with the work, so they asked him if he wanted them and he said he didn't but would find someone to take them. That is where we are at now. I would want to raise them for beef also, fully grown, or sell them when they are full grown. Thanks for all the good advice.

chevytaHOE5674 · Aug 18, 2011

Do you have enough hay made to feed them through the winter?

Or will you be buying hay? If so those "free" calves just got even more expensive.

o/t angus calves

greenmachineman

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IBorange in TX

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greenmachineman

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wijim

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jackinok

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LAA

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randallnMo

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jackinok

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LorenMN

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greenmachineman

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chevytaHOE5674

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