UPDATE Jersey Calf Refusing Grain

[klcardella]

I purchased a 3.5 month old weaned Jersey Heifer 4 days ago. She had been weaned for about 2 weeks, according to the seller. She is eating grass and hay just fine, but refuses the calf starter I purchased. I tried some crimped oats with molasses, and she refuses that also.

I know that at this age, she should have some supplement besides grass, but she absolutely turns her nose up at anything I try. The seller said she was eating grain with the other calves and cows but she was not sure how much she was getting.

Could this be just getting used to a new place, or should I be worried. I raise sheep and some wethered goats, and I have never had an animal turn down grain unless they were ill.

Her stools are fine, she uses the salt lick and minerals, plus drinks plenty of water. She grazes fine, but still looks a little thin to me. She also does not run around as I would expect for a calf her age. Could be the heat, but I tend to be a worrier.

Any advice, or am I just being paranoid? How can I get her to eat the calf starter?

Kendra

 

[klcardella]

No ideas?

 

[goatgurl]

are you feeding the same grain as the lady you got her from? sometimes it takes a while for them to accept a new diet. I have actually pushed grain into their mouths for two or three feedings until they get the taste of it and decide its ok. not tons, just a handful or two and hold them while they chew on it. sounds like otherwise she is doing ok. she is a jersey and they are made a little thinner than other breeds of cattle. hope everything goes ok with her.

 

[klcardella]

Thank you for your good advice goatgurl! Actually, I did try pushing some in her mouth, and it worked a little, but she was still refusing to eat it on her own. I thought I got the same feed that the seller was using, but found out today that she was using a soft creep pellet, and I had purchased a beef calf mix that including corn, mixed grains, and molasses. I went back to the feed store, and got the right one, and she started eating!!

I am so relieved. She did not eat a lot, but it's progress, and the vet said I need to get her up to 2.5 lbs per day.

Thanks again for responding!

 

[klcardella]

Just an update on the Jersey calf. She has been here almost 3 weeks, and shortly after I last posted, we had to put her back on milk replacer. She is on 1.5 quarts in the AM and PM, plus free choice pasture and hay (at night). She is still only eating between 0.5 and 1.5 lbs of calf starter a day. She is just really not interested. I started her on 2 quart 2x/day, but then she ate no starter.

Since she is now 4 months old, should I just keep her on the milk replacer until she is eating more calf starter, or should I reduce her milk to 2 quarts once a day in hopes she will eat more? Is it absolutely necessary for her to be eating 2-3 lbs of starter a day? I don't really want to keep bottle feeding her for an extended period of time.

She grazes pasture very well, and eats a little hay at night, but just nibbles a little at any kind of grain. She is active, alert, and seems otherwise OK. She does cough a bit after her bottle, which I have reduced by holding the bottle much lower and giving her breaks, but I don't want her to end up with respiratory problems from being back on a bottle. She refuses to drink from a bucket.

Another note; she weighs approximately 125 lbs, and from what I see online, she should be about 180 at 4 months old, although her mother is a smaller jersey (700-800 lbs), so she may just be smaller than regular jerseys. She was about 110 when we got her 2.5 weeks ago, but lost a little weightso has gained about 15-20 lbs, or about 0.9 - 1.2 pounds per day.

Am I over-analyzing this, or should I be doing something different?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I raise sheep, and this cow thing is completely new to me.

 

[Alaskan]

Dunno....

But if she looks healthy, has a companion to play with, is eating grass and hay and drinking water, and poop looks good...

I would just shrug and say OK....

Dunno.

 

[klcardella]

Dunno....

But if she looks healthy, has a companion to play with, is eating grass and hay and drinking water, and poop looks good...

I would just shrug and say OK....

Dunno.

I guess so. I will just play it by ear

 

[farmerjan]

I would say first off that size is relative and if her dam is small, don't sweat the size. More important is the condition and her overall well being. Active, alert, clear eyes, good manure, not too loose or any blood or anything. Cut her to one bottle a day, and you may need to keep her contained in a smaller lot to convince her to eat more grain, at least say 12 hours a day, as it seems she is filling up with grass. But, we have a couple of beef cows that have always turned up their nose at grain, so she could just not be one to want alot of grain. The biggest "negative"to them not eating enough grain to get the protein for them to grow better and not get the typical "pot gut" that so many dairy calves get. There is no real sure fire way to guarantee that she will eat more grain. Since you are back on the milk replacer, then I would continue it for a couple more weeks, once a day. If she is the only "cow" or calf that you have some of it could be loneliness. So many people don't realize how they "play off of each other" for eating and stuff. Company of the sheep or other animals will help, but she may be lonely for one of her own kind. I try to tell people to not only raise a single of ANYTHING. They like company and prefer the kind that speaks "their language" .

 

[greybeard]

I try to tell people to not only raise a single of ANYTHING.

Including dogs.
For my part 2 is plenty. I've found 2 will keep each other company, but 3 will fight.

 

[babsbag]

I don't raise a single of anything either. One reason I don't own a cow.