4 month old calves sold online

[ctroidl]

I have noticed recently on breedersworld that there are calves being sold that are only 4 months of age. Do these calves stay on there mothers for another 4 months or are they weaned at only 4 months of age.
Also if they are weaned this early what should a guy feed them in order to supply them with the essential nutrients they require.

 

[jbzdad]

a lot of these club calves are started on creep from the get go.. weaning at 120 days would be easy and pretty common..some of  the best ones likely have already been tied up and clipped a little bit... if a breeder can sell them at 4 mos and 400 pounds why should he wait til fall to sell them

buyers like to get out early and pick the best ones and get them home early

 

[ferkj]

Most of these sales have terms for pickup.  Usually by Aug or Sept.  Call the consignors and find out exactally what they will do and what the terms are.  Most of the calves we have bought this way the process was quite easy.  We've had people hold them for an extra week or 2 without any problems.  However find out before the auction if this is possible for them to do.

Usually the calves get kicked back out with mommas after the auction and are treated just like any other calves would be.  Most sellers want those calves looking better when you pick them up than when you bought hoping for a repeat customer for years to come.

 

[rackranch]

I don't mind buying young show calves.  I feel like the sooner I can get them on feed the better.  For our program, it works out.  We start showing in May and hit it hard as we can all summer.  When I say hard as we can, I mean as much as the steers will allow and still keep their ADG's and look good.  After all, our main goal is to be good in the end.  If I can start knocking the green off these calves early and start softening them up then the better they look starting in May. Getting a head start also allows us to be able to haul the calves without as much recovery time after a haul.

We start on a dry 35% corn ration with oats and cottonseed hulls and work our way up from there.  It takes patients and you have to bring them along slowly.  Obviously every calve is different so even at that early age we hand feed so we can accommodate each ones progress.

This being said, if a breeder has a good feeding program and is not just turning them back out on momma after the sell. Then he can keep them on his feed bill for another month or so.