Coffee anyone ?

@farmerjan Do you run your nurse cows together once the grafts are stuck or do keep each pair(s) separated? It would really lighten up a load of issues right now if I could get away with running the 3 jerseys and their grafts all together in one pasture. Normally I always have kept everyone separated since thieving is common. I'm running out of separated pastures with feed but have a larger pasture that one set is on that could feed them all for longer than we will be here. Thoughts?
 
@RR Homestead They all go together once the calves are established.. Yes, they steal off one or the other... doesn't matter as long as the cows are getting milked out and no mastitis... I never cared who fed who, once the calves got well established on a cow... they know where to go... If someone else is standing and they go on her, so what. Only matters if someone is witchy and doesn't really want to be a nurse cow, then when all go together, the grafted calves might get kicked away in favor of just the natural calf... Then I intervene... and she gets a choice to be a nurse cow, or take a ride.... but once I get them situated, they all go out together, with the beef heifers or cows or whoever is at that pasture. Calves are usually 2-4 weeks old... just depends on how well situated they are...
 
farmerjan said:
@RR Homestead They all go together once the calves are established.. Yes, they steal off one or the other... doesn't matter as long as the cows are getting milked out and no mastitis... I never cared who fed who, once the calves got well established on a cow... they know where to go... If someone else is standing and they go on her, so what. Only matters if someone is witchy and doesn't really want to be a nurse cow, then when all go together, the grafted calves might get kicked away in favor of just the natural calf... Then I intervene... and she gets a choice to be a nurse cow, or take a ride.... but once I get them situated, they all go out together, with the beef heifers or cows or whoever is at that pasture. Calves are usually 2-4 weeks old... just depends on how well situated they are...
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Let the chaos begin. 😂 Thank you! This will save me a LOT of money right now. Don't really care who feeds who exactly I was just worried someone would end up going without. Going to give this a go. Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!
P.S. Sure wish I'd asked years ago :hide:hu:gig
 
Just monitor them... there will be some pecking order to establish... make sure no one has any obvious unmilked quarter... so no mastitis... and watch the calves so no one looks like they are getting shortchanged... they will learn that if one goes on the cow, usually the natural calf... that the others better dive in and get theirs too... I think it helps to get them to learn to eat grass/hay/grain too... they will play together, and lay around and be buddies together...
When I had 6 with calves it was a circus for the first 2-3 weeks, getting calves on each cow...I would kick the cows out in the evening to graze (more than 12 hours over the night shift) and then bring them in, in the barn, in the morning.... and make sure all the calves got on the cow they were first grafted on... then I just would bring them in and first come first served... most would go to "their cow" ..... once they got it figured out, then started letting them out days with the cows so I could watch them... most would come in to the barn when the cows came in... after a couple days... they stay out all the time... If I called the cows to the barn, they came in to eat... The calves had figured out the creep gate and came in the barn when it was hot, and for grain... as the barn is "home".... makes it easy... This time of year they don't even come in for grain as much.. and they are all laying around in a group most every time you see them...
 
farmerjan said:
Just monitor them... there will be some pecking order to establish... make sure no one has any obvious unmilked quarter... so no mastitis... and watch the calves so no one looks like they are getting shortchanged... they will learn that if one goes on the cow, usually the natural calf... that the others better dive in and get theirs too... I think it helps to get them to learn to eat grass/hay/grain too... they will play together, and lay around and be buddies together...
When I had 6 with calves it was a circus for the first 2-3 weeks, getting calves on each cow...I would kick the cows out in the evening to graze (more than 12 hours over the night shift) and then bring them in, in the barn, in the morning.... and make sure all the calves got on the cow they were first grafted on... then I just would bring them in and first come first served... most would go to "their cow" ..... once they got it figured out, then started letting them out days with the cows so I could watch them... most would come in to the barn when the cows came in... after a couple days... they stay out all the time... If I called the cows to the barn, they came in to eat... The calves had figured out the creep gate and came in the barn when it was hot, and for grain... as the barn is "home".... makes it easy... This time of year they don't even come in for grain as much.. and they are all laying around in a group most every time you see them...
Click to expand...
Two sets (5 calves) are almost 4 months old. The other set (3 calves) one is just over a month and the other two are just over 2 months. I think I'll do turn out during the day and in at night for a bit to be sure everyone is doing fine. The cows should be fine. Mom is in charge. Daughter 1 is her pride and joy (a royal pain in my rear). Daughter two is the bottom and knows to stay clear. All 3 have been out together on and off.
Good thinking on the creep gate. I'll put some feed in our creep feeder since moms will be out to pasture. That should help take the load off moms a bit and the cows won't be getting their grain rations once they are out to pasture. Maybe just a bit to share to keep them coming in. Good tips. Thanks! :hugs
 
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Dinah and chicks, perfect for Mother's Day.

I would wager that in both these photos the left one is a pullet, but the right one is all cockerel!
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