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Bottle Calf Basics
By: Sabina Cameron
For one reason or another, each year it seems like one little calf needs a bottle. Sometimes a first-calf heifer doesn’t accept the calf; sometimes she just doesn’t produce enough milk to support it. Other cases include old cows that no longer can support a calf and unforeseen accidents that leave a calf orphaned. When possible, it is best to leave the calf with its mother and supplement it with additional feedings.
If the calf is orphaned from birth, the first 24 hours of feedings should be colostrums [footnote deleted]. For miniature calves weighing between 30-40 pounds, one pint of colostrum is sufficient for the first feeding*.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when raising a bottle calf:
- Devise a regular schedule for feedings. It is best to feed the calf 3-4 times daily.
- Feed the calf small amounts at each feeding. This will lessen the appearance of a “pot belly” characteristic of many bottle calves.
- Allow calf to nurse from mother when possible. If not, it is still a good idea to leave them in the same pen so the mother (esp. a first-calf heifer) can bond with the calf.
First 24 hours: colostrums
Week 1: Increase milk daily until calf is not hungry (1 cup/feeding until calf refuses more.)
Week 2: Hold calf at same amount of milk
Week 3: If calf is still hungry—increase amount of milk (increase amount/feeding) & hold
Week 4: Hold calf at same amount of milk
Month 1 & 2: Increase milk once/2 weeks until calf refuses to finish a feeding (s/he is full.)
After 60 days: Start calf on a creep/starter grain (1 cup/day) until calf eats it all. Continue milk.
Month 3 & 4: Increase grain amount to 1-2 lbs/day. Continue milk schedule.
Month 5: Begin decreasing amount of milk weekly.**
Month 6: Calf is eating grain regularly
& can now be weaned from the bottle entirely.
Here is a basic timetable you can follow when feeding your bottle calf***:
For the first 3 months, it is a good idea to increase the amount of milk (1 – 1 ½ cups/feeding) every 2 weeks. As the calf begins regular grain consumption, do not increase amount of milk. By this time, the calf should be getting about 1 – 1 ½ quarts/bottle 3-4 times daily depending on the size/appetite of the calf. Even though the calf may begin to eat grain regularly, it is important to make sure it gets all of the nutrients it needs from the milk during those first developmental stages.
When it comes times to wean the calf, it works best to decrease the amount of milk by increments then wean entirely. Start weaning in Month 5.
n Week 1: decrease to 3 feedings.
n Week 2: 1 quart/bottle 3 times daily.
n Week 3: 3 cups/bottle 3 times daily.
n Week 4: 2 bottles 1 qt/am & 1 qt/pm
* 41-50 lbs.—1 ½ pints. 50+ lbs. May take up to a quart in the first feeding.
** If feeding 4 times/day, you can decrease to 3 times/day to start with, then gradually reduce each bottle amount.
*** Supplementing: the calf may quit taking a bottle at any time because the cow is now making enough milk to support the calf.
Reproduced from Miniature Cattle Around the World, Winter 2007, Vol. 9 No. 1, p. 25