As part of UMADCOWS, we are responsible for feeding all the calves. While we do not put down the feed ourselves, we often grain them and then push up the feed so that they are able to reach it. A key aspect to calf feeding is the weaning process. Weaning is when you get the calf accustomed to food other than milk. Gradually we decrease the amount of the milk that a calf gets in order to help them transition to solid food. During this time they are also getting calf grain which has a lot of nutrients that are important for their early development.
Proper nutrition is so important for early
development in calves because it helps to
strengthen their immune system and helps them
grow big and strong. The calf grain that they are
fed helps their rumen get accustomed to
digesting grain. Giving the calves calf grain can
also help us tell when it is safe to wean them!
Once a calf can eat 3-5 pounds of grain per day,
we can safely wean them. It’s so important to
wean calves properly in order to not cause any
stress on the animals. Once they are large
enough and have had enough calf grain to help
support their rumen, they are moved to the
livestock pens. The livestock pens are much
larger and give the calves plenty of space to
stretch out, play, and get accustomed to living in
the livestock pens.