| Jay NE Ohio - 6/30/2022 06:29
I am a dairy farmer that milks Jerseys. Sell most of my bull calves, but always keep a few back for herd bulls and one a year for meat. Best tasting meat out there. Steaks are plenty big enough for my family.
We quit feeding milk replacer back in 2012 and only feed whole pasteurized waste milk to our calves. Calves are healthier, grow faster, less mortality than when they were on replacer.
When the boys were in 4-H, we would feed the dairy beef feeders 1 gallon waste milk per day for the first month and then 2 gallons waste milk per day right up to fair time (7 months). Calves would be over 600# (2.5# per day).
On this how did you pasteurize enough? 2 gallon used units @$200 like https://www.ebay.ca/itm/265754203560?hash=item3de02f55a8:g:QGIAAOSwA...
10 head is 5 cycles a day. Then 10 cycles. A 7 gallon unit @$1500. I don’t see any 10 gallon used ones. But quick search, need to find out cost of raw milk from neighbor. Trip every morning….
Maybe milk replacer best option for now. Any reason it needs to be pasteurized?
My calves drank from manure tits at times.
I was thinking milk replacer, whole milk if price is right. Use real stuff. But if issue, mix replacement. Or is switching bad? I suspect it could be. |
Jersey bull calves. Worth it?
