I have want to start raising calves on my cows. I have a holsine cow, a half holsine/beef heifer due in April and a herford cow with calf. I also have several other heifers. Does anyone know how many calves I can put on per cow?? My holstine will take any calf she gets near. Are "spent dairy cows" a good bet to put calves on, as long as they are not sick or don't have mastitis. If any one has answers to these or other things that have to do with raising calves your comments would be appreciated .

-- SharRon Hallman (Turnaquete@aol.com), February 07, 2000

Answers

As nature goes its suppose to be supply and demand.A healthy dairy cow should be able to handle at least 3 I would think .I would make sure I had the best feed and plenty for the calfs when ready to start eating.Just remember this will be a strain on the mama ,she should be in top condition.A cow who will take on any calf is priceless ,be carefull not to stress her to much .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), February 07, 2000.

Thanks for your input. I have friends who have put up to 6 alves on a cow but that seems like to much sterss on a cow ( I shure wouldnt want to have 6 babies at once!)

-- SharRon (Turnaquete@aol.com), February 07, 2000.

Thanks for your input. I have friends who have put up to 6 calves on a cow but that seems like to much sterss on a cow ( I shure wouldnt want to have 6 babies at once!)

-- SharRon (Turnaquete@aol.com), February 07, 2000.

Thanks for your input. I have friends who have put up to 6 calves on a cow but that seems like to much stress on a cow ( I shure wouldnt want to have 6 babies at once!)

-- SharRon (Turnaquete@aol.com), February 07, 2000.

opps didnt mean for it to come up 3 times....

-- SharRon (Turnaquete@aol.com), February 07, 2000.

NOt an answer, but a question. How do you pursuade a new mother, who lost her calf, to take on a different calf? I read somewhere about smearing something on the calf? Mother? I am trying to find a day old calf via the vet. . .will check out the auction. If I don't find one I guess I will let her dry up. Breed again for WARM weather! She had the calf outdoors in the snow and even though I got it into the barn under a heat lamp, I must have waited too long trying to let mom handle things. She was such a pretty little girl, looked just like her dad. Mom and I will know better next time! Thanks in advance for any info/help!

-- (phyllis.warman@twcable.com), December 29, 2000.

I think you should only put 4 cows on a cow at one time

-- carli (carls_2003@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

I think you should only put 4 cows on a cow at one time

-- carli (carls_2003@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

Answering the question about getting a cow to take a calf after she lost hers. We skin the dead calf (keep the tail on) and tie it onto the new calf. Leave the dead calf in the pen until you find your new calf. (We have seen the time when it took over three days to locate a new calf.) Then take the dead calf out of the pen, skin it, tie the hide on, and gently turn the new calf in with the cow. (In hot weather, you don't have as much time to find a new calf - !)

Now, addressing the question about all those calves on one cow. We don't run the calves with the cow. We bring her in twice a day and let the calves nurse and she is alone all the rest of the time. So, how ever many calves we are using to take all her milk does not represent extra stress to the cow. We are just emptying her udder twice a day - same as if she was being milked - just using calves to do the job.

-- homestead2 (homestead@localnetplus.com), May 08, 2002.