Raising a Bottle-Fed Calf on a Cow/Calf Operation

Authors

Reganne K. Briggs, Utah State UniversityFollow
Katelyn Barsnick, Utah State UniversityFollow
Cheyenne Reid, Utah State UniversityFollow
Ashley Longmore, Utah State University

Document Type

Factsheet

Publisher

Utah State University Extension

Publication Date

5-19-2023

Abstract

Having bottle-fed calves on the ranch is common for beef producers. The most likely scenarios are a cow has died, a cow isn’t giving enough milk, or a twin has been rejected. All these scenarios are likely to happen, which results in an orphan calf. Bottle-feeding a calf is straightforward; however, there are limited resources, specifically for beef producers, looking for bottle-fed calf management strategies. When bottle-feeding a beef calf, there are some things to consider, such as feeding colostrum, selecting and using milk replacers, and weaning the calf. Many of the resources on bottle-calf management come from the dairy industry; however, beef producers can tailor dairy industry strategies to fit their own operation.

Recommended Citation

Briggs, R., Barsnick, K., Reid, C., & Longmore, A. (2023). Raising a bottle-fed calf on a cow/calf operation [Fact sheet]. Utah State University Extension.