How To Get A Calf To Eat Grain

[Santo]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Breadtrk]

Put the animal on grass, where it belongs.