My 4H Dairy Project
what is this?
This is a page that I have dedicated to my own version of the 4H dairy project. 4H is a youth development organization similar to boy scouts or girl scouts. Although they have other project options, their main focus are "learning by doing" projects in agriculture. Even though I have (clearly) aged out of enrolling in 4H, I have an interest in agriculture, admire their pledge, and wanted to have a job helping animals when I was younger. So, by myself, I have decided to do my own version of a 4H project for personal comfort and interest!
I will be talking about cows and their uses in agriculture on this page. If this makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to click back home. I won't be offended. (I personally find the viewing of animals as "products" in an industry abhorrent; my knowledge of cows presented here would be used for personal use: either to homestead and/or start a small family farm that I would run ethically). Thank you!
how to feed a calf
a farmer should always strive to have a strong, healthy calf heifers. strong calves grow into strong adults that thrive, have excellent production, and increase farm profits. to determine what your calf should consume, it depends on the age of the calf. please consult the chart below to show how you should feed your calf.
| 0 to 3 days | Colostrum |
| 4 days to 3 weeks | Whole milk or replacer, grain or calf starter |
| 3 to 8 weeks | Milk or replacer, starter, roughage |
| 8 weeks to 4 months | 2-5 lbs. calf ration, hay, wean milk |
| 4 to 6 months | less than or equal to 5 lbs. grain, free choice hay |
| 6 to 12 months | 5 lbs. grain, hay, some pasture |
feeding milk
you may feed your calf whole milk or milk replacer. the choice between the two depends on your available resources, budget, and personal values.
should i feed my calf milk or milk replacer?
if you have a freshened heifer or the calf's mother producing milk, this may be beneficial for you. extension estimates the cost of feeding a calf whole milk is about $1.40 per day. a leading calf milk replacer costs approximately $2.35 per pound. if, for example, a 94 lb. Holstein calf receives 9.4 lbs of milk per day, it would cost approximately $1.40 for whole milk per day versus $22.09 for milk replacer per day. additionally, if you believe the calf should have as organic of a diet as possible, whole milk would be ideal. sometimes, extenuating circumstances (calf rejection, health of the mother or calf, insufficient nutrients in the milk, etc.) make a milk replacer necessary. milk replacer is appropriate as long as it follows specific standards (at least 20% fat and a base of milk solids for the first three to four weeks).how much should i feed my calf?
one pound of whole milk per 10 pounds of body weight is ideal. for example, a 55 lb. Jersey calf would need 5.5 lbs. of milk per day. for both milk and replacer, be sure to weigh the portion and feed half in the morning and half at night. increase milk, offer water, and introduce a good grain mix or calf starter as the calf grows after the first week.
