How To Get A Calf To Eat Grain

Santo

New member
Messages
1
Do you know how to get a calf to eat grain? I've got a 2-week old bottle calf that doesn't seem to be going for it, even with nudging. Are there any tried and true techniques that have worked for you?
 
The Big Cowhuna

The Big Cowhuna

Golden Chicken
Messages
126
Some just won't eat solid food that early. Offer pellets for calves and alfalfa hay. Sometimes you have to help it along by placing the food (carefully) in their mouth.
 
Harmony

Harmony

Farm Hand
Messages
36
The calf may be too young to wean at this point. Many farmers wait until the calf is seven to nine weeks of age to wean it. A calf can be weaned as early as three to four weeks of age, though. So, maybe just wait another week or two before trying to wean him/her.

In the meantime, continue to offer the calf grain. When he/she has eaten 1.5 to 2 pounds of grain for three days in a row, he/she is ready to be weaned.

Hang in there! Your calf will get there.
 
 
Top