Discover more vital tips regarding rearing calves facts and how to raise cattle successfully using the right way

1. Crucial Tips On Rearing Calves
The Right Way
Click Here For More Tips On Raising Cattle The Proper Way And
Avoid Making Costly Mistakes
Because a calf is the future of the herd, rearing calves is one of the most
crucial jobs on a farm. A calf that is not properly taken care of in its first few
weeks of life will not meet target weights, will be more susceptible to illness
and, consequently, will cost more to rear. The following are tips on how to
properly rear calves.
Feeding milk

2.  Rearing calves on milk replacer or whole milk should be done at least
three days after birth. For the calf's first three days of life, let it feed
on its mother's colostrum.
 Whole milk or milk replacer should be introduced to the calf
gradually over a period of days.
 Avoid giving zero skim milk replacer to calves under four weeks of
age. Zero skim milk replacer does not form a clot in a calf's stomach.
As a result, the calf's small intestine can become overloaded.
 Skim based milk replacer, on the other hand, forms a reconstituted
milk clot in the calf's stomach. This slows down the release of milk
proteins, which results in fewer incidents of digestive upsets and
scour.
 When giving calves milk replacer, make sure that it is at the correct
temperature, as this affects the willingness of the calf to drink the
milk. Giving milk replacer at wrong temperatures can also lead to
bloating and fat breakdown.
Dehorning and teat removal
 Dehorning should be carried out at three to four weeks of age.
 Use a local anesthetic when dehorning.
 Perform teat removal at the same time as dehorning.
 Only veterinarians or experienced operators should be allowed to
perform these procedures.
Weaning
 Weaning is one of the most stressful stages in the process of rearing
calves. Try to lessen the stress by weaning calves at eight weeks of
age.

3.  Make sure that the calves are healthy and disease-free before
attempting weaning.
 Make sure that the calves weight at least 65 kilos before attempting to
wean them.
 For at least three days before weaning, make sure that the calves
consume at least 1 kilo of calf mixture per calf per day.
Housing
 When rearing calves, make sure that they are in a clean, dry, and
warm area.
 House calves younger than three months away from older calves.
 Calf housing should be in a location that encourages close observation
and quality care.
 Calf housing should minimize disease risk and support high growth
rates.
 Calf housing should be easily disassembled for cleaning.
Preventing illness
 After a calf is born, make sure that it gets enough colostrum.
 When preparing milk replacer, make sure that you follow mixing
instructions to the letter.
 Make sure that calf pens are draught-free and that beddings are dry.
 Make sure that calf pens have effective ventilation.
 Hose down and disinfect calf pens before putting in a new batch of
calves.
 Avoid putting calves of different ages and from different sources in
the same calf pen.

4.  Thoroughly clean and disinfect each calf pen at least twice during a
calving season.
 If sickness from E. coli or other bacteria is a persistent problem,
vaccinate against them.
 Make sure that calves don't get too stressed out from dehorning.
 If you are rearing calves together in one shelter, isolate calves that are
sick as soon as possible.
Click Here For More Tips On Raising Cattle The Proper Way And
Avoid Making Costly Mistakes