Cow Calf Problem

[forbes family farms]

I have a reserve champion cow with her first calf. The problem is though that the cow is not gaining weight, calf is not eating anything else except mamma's milk. We have the cow and calf in the barn and feeding the cow and the calf, while the calf is separated from its mom. We really don't  want to wean the calf. What does everyone else do when this happens? My dad just seperated the cow from the calf. Is there anything else we can do. Thanks.    (cow)

 

[farwest]

Might try green grass if you haven't.

 

[LN]

How old is the calf?

 

[Cattledog]

I've shown some cow calf pairs in my day and I tell you....I hate it when I have one good enough to show!  I do have one question.  How old is the calf?  Our state fair is in August so I really never drag anything around unless it has at least a march calf on its side.  The problem I have with showing a cow calf pair is the amount of feed you have to pour out to the cow.  If your cow loses weight it is real hard to gain any ground back.  Remember, most of that feed goes to milk production.  So the energy goes right through them.  If you have an older calf on the side of the cow you may want to try to limit the nursing to 2 times a day and offer feed.  If calves aren't getting food in one place they are likely to look elsewhere for nutrition.  This is how you can get the calf to eat more feed and also possibly put some weight on the cow.  We usually don't keep the cows in the show barn.  I never have been one to get all crazy about getting a bunch of hair on a cow. 

 

[box6rranch]

If it were me I would let them out of the barn. They need fresh air and exercise. Our nursing cows attack grain like crazy. What are you feeding? The calf we start on creep and then mix half and half with the grain. And we always have pasture or hay available.

 

[forbes family farms]

The calf was born in February on the 25 i believe. Thanks for your help. Have a great showing season and wonderful summer. i appreciate the help.

 

[forbes family farms]

We had the cow and the calf on green grass and that didn't work. I hope you have a wonderful showing season and a great summer. I appreciate all the help.

 

[forbes family farms]

The calf is a February calf born on the 25 i believe. Are fair is in a month and i would like to put as much weight on that cow as i can, with out hurting her. I asked my dad to seperate the calf from the mom for a couple of hours and keep her on hay and calf feed. You are just like are family we don't care about hair we just want a calf that looks good and don't have to pay a lot of money for either, because i only show at county and open shows. The more hair on a calf the better it will look everyone says but imagine how stressed out that calf would be. I appreicate the help. Have a great showing season and summer!

 

[forbes family farms]

Well the barn as plenty of space for the cow and the calf to run and play, are barn is open to. We feed the calf creep feed and we give the cow corn and some other thing is in the feed that my dad gives them. And the cow won't eat anything except ground corn and if were lucky she will eat some hay. We always have hay for them to. Have a great showing season and summer. I appreicate the help.

 

[farmboy]

wean the calf. he's old enough

 

[CPL]

After going back and reading  your post, are you show this pair as cow calf? or is this just a previous show heifer on her first calf?

How much milk does you cow produce? Is she a heavier milker? Often times those cows are harder keepers.

Cows will naturally lose weight while nursing, but if your cow is getting way too thin on green grass you have a problem. The calf is old enough to wean so that's not a problem, but you will have the same issue next year. I would try to get ahold of an easier keeping cow. I know you probably think you have a lot invested in this cow, but you are going to lose so much of your profit if you have to keep feeding her corn to barely keep her in condition. Been there, done that.

 

[forbes family farms]

bump