Your Tama County

4-H Bottle Calf Project

Attach picture of calf with 4-H member

4-H Member Name

Address

Club Name

Grade completed

Date Project started

Introduction The bottle calf project is offered to all 4-H members 4th thru 8th grade. If a member chooses to move on to a larger beef project, they may not return to the bottle beef project. Anyone interested in the project must be enrolled in bottle calf project. Go into 4honline and be sure you are enrolled in the project.

Objectives 1. to learn proper health care and nutritional requirements of calves.

2. to learn basic calf management skills

3. to learn basic livestock record keeping skills

Guidelines

* Calves must be born between January 1 and May 15.

* Calves must be identified on 4honline before May 15.

* A photo of the calf must be included.

* Any newborn or orphan calf, steer or heifer, dairy or beef calf is eligible.

* Calves can not be nursing a cow, they must be bottle or bucket fed.

Calves at the Tama County Fair

Calves will be shown at halter on Sunday prior to the beef show. The classes will be divided by the age of the exhibitor.

You must submit your project record book at county fair during your interview. You may add any other material you wish to this record.

Please enclose an ending picture of you and your calf.

Interviews will be conducted at the Tama County Fair. An interview schedule will be posted on the fairgrounds.

Interview judging will be based on: what the member has learned about caring for and raising a calf, health care, feeding, normal growth, etc.

Overall judging will be based on:

1. showing with an emphasis on what a member

has learned.

2. general health of the calf and knowledge.

3. interview score.

4. Completed records will be evaluated.

5. Quality and calf conformation will NOT be considered.

Identify your goals

Clear goals will help you decide what is most important to you. Think about what you hope to learn from the Bottle Calf project. In your goals, include things you want to learn about bottle calves.

Project Goals

(Example: I want to learn where I can buy a calf by May 1st.)

1.

2.

3.

Selecting Your Calf You can look several places for your calf. If your family has a herd, you may have an available calf due to the mother not being able to care for the calf. You can check with relatives, neighbors and other cattle producers. Check with the local sale barn as another option.

Tell us how you selected your calf. (Example: Where did you get the calf? From home? Neighbor? Sale Barn?) Why did you select that calf? (Example: Was it the only one to choose from? Did you like the calf because of its disposition (how it acted)

Feeding Colostrum

When first born, calves lack antibodies and certain nutrients. Newborn calves acquire both immunity against many diseases plus certain vitamins from cows first milk which is called colostrum.

If the calf is born on your farm, be sure the calf receives colostrum within the first two hours.

Follow these guidelines for consumption:

2 quarts in the first two hours

2 quarts in about 8-12 hours

Calves can only absorb the immunities from colostrum for about 24 hours.

On a dairy farm the calf is usually removed from the cow 18-24 hours after birth and is bottle fed colostrum or cow’s milk.

Before purchasing a calf, ask the seller if the calf did receive colostrum in the first 12 hours of life. If they did not receive colostrum, they could develop health problems. Start the calf on milk replacer after colostrum.

1. Did your calf receive colostrum in the first 12 hours of its life?

2. Did your calf receive colostrum from its mother or was it colostrum that you mixed up and fed in a bottle?

3. Why is colostrum so important for a newborn calf?

Weighing Your Calf

In order to feed your calf the right amount of feed, you need to know how much the calf weighs. A calf can be weighed on a feed scale or it can be measured with a tape. If you choose to tape, you will need a special tape measure that can be purchased at a feed or animal supply store. This tape is marked off in pounds in addition to inches. Wrap this tape measure around your calf’s body, behind the front legs. Carefully read the tape to estimate your calf’s weight.

1. How much did your calf weigh at birth?

2. Why is it important to know how much your calf weighs?

Milk Replacer The objective of feeding your calf is to provide the proper nutrients to grow a healthy calf as fast as possible. Purchase a high quality milk replacer. The milk replacer should contain a milk based protein and not a soybean based protein, because soybean protein is hard to digest. Cheap milk replacers are available but may not provide the nutrients needed for the calf to perform well.

Calves should be fed twice daily. Follow the directions on the milk replacer bag. Feed fresh milk replacer at each feeding. Calves should be on milk for at least 4-6 weeks.

Feed at 100 degrees or about the temperature of hot tap water.

Example--

A calf weighing 80 pounds needs 6.4 pounds or 3.2 quarts of milk per day. ( 1.6 quarts per feeding).

A calf weighing 100 pounds needs 8 pounds of milk

or 4 quarts per day (2 quarts per feeding).

A calf weighing 120 pounds needs 9.6 pounds of milk or 4. 8 quarts per day (2.4 quarts per feeding).

1. What supplies do you need to bottle feed your calf?

2. What time did you feed your calf?

3. What was the hardest thing about feeding your calf the bottle?

4. What was your favorite part about feeding your calf the bottle?

Basic Equipment Milk replacer-A quality milk replacer to provide necessary nutrients for a growing calf.

Milk Bottle or pail: A bottle or pail with a rubber nipple is needed for feeding milk replacer to a calf. Be sure to keep it clean and in good condition.

Feed and Water Containers: Provide small buckets to keep a starter feed and fresh water to your calf. Secure them with hooks or a holder so they don’t over turn them.

Cleaning Supplies: Your milk bottle or pail and containers will need to be kept clean. You will need to clean them with soap and water. A brush and towels, or cleaning cloth will also be needed.

Storage space: You will need to keep your milk replace and calf pellets dry. Store them in a plastic container like a trash can with a cover. This will keep your feed dry and rodent free.

Rope Halter: You will need to halter break your calf so it will lead.

Manure fork and wheelbarrow. You will need to clean away manure, urine and soiled bedding from your calf everyday.

Bedding: Straw or wood shavings will help keep your calf warm and dry.

1. List at least 5 pieces of equipment that are necessary for raising a baby calf.

Calf Starter

Begin feeding a calf starter at about 7- 10 days of age plus a handful of high quality hay. Remember to change feed and hay every feeding to prevent it from becoming stale.

Try to encourage the calf to eat some calf starter after it has finished with its milk. Calves should have access to a little fresh water during the day when they begin to eat feed. Calves do not like finely ground and dusty feeds. Feed should be coarsely ground, cracked, rolled or flaked.

Calves can be weaned at 4-6 weeks when they are eating 1.5 to 2 pounds of calf starter per day. Keep feeding starter up to 3- 4 months of age plus free choice of hay. The calf can then be put on a grower ration of corn, oats and protein. Keep trace mineral salt before it at all times after weaning.

Calves should be weaned from the bottle or bucket before fair.

1. What date did you start giving calf starter?

2. Did the calf eat it right away?

3. What date did you wean your calf off the bottle?

Nutrients

Nutrients in animal feed help animals stay alive and keep them growing. There are 6 classes of

nutrients in feeds: water, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins.

Water carries the nutrients to the places in the body where they are needed. Water helps remove

waste products and helps keep the body cool. Be sure to provide your animal with plenty of clean

fresh water. A calf can drink from 1- 10 gallons of water daily, depending on it’s weight and the

outside temperature.

Carbohydrates are like sugars and starches. They provide calves with energy to breathe, walk and

grow muscles. Energy from feed that is not used is stored as fat. Corn is a good source of

carbohydrate. Other grains contain carbohydrates too.

Fats are also energy sources. Some fat is found in grain and hay.

Protein is used to make and repair muscle. Soybean meal, alfalfa and clover hay are good sources

of protein. Corn is not a good source of protein.

Vitamins and minerals are added to calf diets. Minerals such as calcium and phosphorous are

important for good bone development. Other minerals help the body work properly. Some minerals

are found in forages and grains but some need to be added. Salt and mineral blocks are often used.

Most of the feed you will use is a commercial feed and the ingredients are already mixed for you.

1. What did you feed your calf? (if you purchased feed – include the ingredients)

Housing

Keep your calf in a pen (4' x 6') until weaned. Calves do best in their own hutch or pen. Calves

should not be housed near or with other livestock. Two or more calves housed in the same pen is not a good idea because of sucking problems. Calves can pick up disease organisms from each other or other livestock.

Thoroughly clean and bed pens often with fresh straw or bedding.

Clean fresh air is important in preventing health problems, but try to prevent drafts on the calf.

Place feed boxes and water buckets so that the top is about 20 inches from the floor. Water should be placed at the front of the pen near the feed.

1. How did you create the house for your calf? What resources did you use?

Include a picture here of your calf’s house (draw or take a picture)

2. What would you change about your calf’s home, if you could, to make it better?

Health

Preventing disease in your calf will get them off to a good start, reduces the chance of death and is cheaper than treating sick animals. Observe your calf regularly, feed them correctly and provide a clean environment. Regular use of a rectal thermometer helps detect sickness. A normal body temperature of 101.5 degrees is a good sign of a healthy calf.

Check your calf before each feeding for any health problems. What is normal?

Respiration: Watch the animal breathe and count the number of breaths per minute. Normal breaths per minute ranges from 20 to 28.

Pulse: You can check the heartbeat by holding your ear against the lower left side of the calf’s chest and listen for the beats. Or you can place you fingers on the artery that crosses the jawbone at the middle of the lower jaw. Normal heart beat per minute is 60 -70 beats.

Temperature: You can purchase an animal rectal thermometer for a small amount of money. Tie a string to the end of the thermometer to maintain control. Shake the mercury down below 98 degrees and insert into the rectum. When you have held the thermometer inside the calf for about 2 minutes pull it out, wipe with a paper towel. Then read the temperature. Normal temperature is 101.5 degrees.

Look at your calves appearance and behavior. A healthy calf eats well, is alert and stretches his back when he gets up. If he looks well, he is probably healthy.

What is not normal?

Signs of a sick calf:

1. Leaves feed or quits eating entirely

2. Dull eyes, droopy ears

3. Diarrhea

4. Runny nose

5. Dry nose

6. Cough

7. Temperature

8. Swollen or puffy left side (bloat)

9. Limping

10. Unusual skin conditions

Scours and pneumonia are two conditions baby calves are very susceptible to especially in the first few weeks. Scours or diarrhea can occur in the first month. Bacteria and viruses attack the lining of the calf’s intestine making it difficult for the calf to absorb nutrients from its milk. Watery diarrhea occurs causing the calf to become dehydrated. If the disease is severe, the calf may die. So it is important to detect and treat scours early.

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by one or more viruses or bacteria. Signs of pneumonia include runny nose, cough, fever, difficulty breathing and decreased appetite. Clean, dry, well bedded housing can help prevent this disease. Calves need an open area with sun but protection from windy drafts and rain.

Calves can pass disease by sucking on each other. To prevent the spread of bacterial infections, wash and sanitize buckets, bottles and nipples. Keep the calf equipment clean, just like the dishes you eat from.

Ask your veterinarian about:

Vaccinations for:

IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotraecheitis)

BVD (Bovine Virus Diarrhea)

Clostridial Diseases ( Black leg and Enterotoxemia)

Castration

Fly Tags

Lice Control

Vitamin A, D and E injections

Dehorn calves when the horn button can be felt. The electric dehorner or dehorning paste are possible methods. Check with your vet for help with dehorning. For your safety, calves should be dehorned.

1. Did you need to dehorn your calf?

2. Did you give your calf any vaccinations?

1 . Did your calf have any health problems? Did you need to call a veterinarian or did you treat the calf on your own?

2. Describe four signs of a sick calf.

3. List at least four signs of a healthy calf.

4. What are two main health problems baby calves can have?

5. Did you try to take the calf’s temperature? What was the temperature?

Beef Terms

Bull - Uncastrated male cattle of any age.

Calves - Young cattle of either sex less than one year of age.

Calving - The act of giving birth.

Cow - Female that has had one or more calves.

Crossbred - An animal with purebred parents of different breeds or grade parents.

Dam - The mother of a calf.

Fetus - The unborn young of cattle after the body parts are formed.

Founder - A nutritional ailment from overeating; foundered animals become lame with sore feet and excessive hoof growth.

Heifer - A female that has not had a calf.

Pinkeye-is caused by a number of irritants (weeds, flies) to the eye. The eye turns reddish and fluid drips from the corner of the eye. If left untreated, a white film will form causing blindness.

Polled - Cattle that are born without horns.

Registered - An animal whose name, along with the name and number of its sire (father) and dam (mother) has been recorded in the records of its breed association. The association gives the animal a registration number and a registration certificate showing the animal has been registered.

Ringworm-caused unsightly patches on the skin. Ringworm is caused by microscopic molds and fungi and can easily spread to humans.

Scurs - Horny tissue or rudimentary horns that are attached to the skin rather than the boney parts of the head.

Sire - The bull that fathers a calf.

Steers - Male cattle that were castrated at an early age before sex characteristics developed.

Warts-are skin tumors caused by a virus that enters the skin through abrasion on the head, neck or shoulder area. Vaccines may be used to treat warts or sometimes surgery.

Practical Farm Knots The ability to tie a variety of knots is a useful skill to have when working with livestock, especially

beef animals. A good tie is one that is easy to tie, stays tied when you want it to, but is also easy for

you to untie after the knot has done its work.

1. Why do you want a knot that is easy to tie, stays tied when you want it to, but will

be easy to untie?

Here are examples of practice farm knots. Try them. If you need more directions, contact the

Extension Office.

Circle the one that you use the most.

Bottle Calf Project

Record Summary

Member's name________________________

Date you received your calf Beginning Weight_____

Other costs

Trucking Fees $___________________________

Feed:

Beginning cost of calf $____________________ (line 1)

Medications & Vet Fees $___________________________

Equipment and Housing $___________________________

Bedding $___________________________

Miscellaneous $___________________________

Total of Other Costs $___________________________ (line 2)

Financial Summary

Beginning cost of calf (line 1) $

Other Expenses ( line 2) $

Total Feed Cost (line 3) $

Total Expenses $ (line 4)

Date at the end of the project

__________________________

Ending weight _________________________

Selling price of the calf $________________________

Subtract total expenses (from line 4) $________________________

Profit (or loss) on the project $________________________

Project Evaluation

Days on Feed______________ Total Gain_________

Total Gain = Average Daily Gain _________

Days on Feed

(divide total gain by days on feed)

Ethics Always be ethical, do the right thing, at home and at the fair.

What you do and say and the way you behave reflects on you

and other 4-H’ers.

Animal Care

Purchase and identify your calf by May 15th.

Feed, water and care for your animal every day.

You should do the work with your calf, adults should be your advisors.

Look out for your animal’s well being, keep your calf safe and comfortable.

Sportsmanship

Display good sportsmanship at all times and be honest.

Treat all exhibitors and officials with courtesy.

You should be competitive but realize you may not be the winner, the judges

decide who they think is best.

Health and Biosecurity

You are responsible for the health of your calf.

You are responsible for reading the rules and completing entries.

You are responsible to see that your animal does not infect other animals. If

your calf is sick when it comes time for fair, leave it at home.

1. The character traits are: caring (showing concern for others); respect (treating

others the way you want to be treated); trustworthiness (don’t lie or cheat); fairness

(play by the rules, listening); responsibility (be accountable for your actions); and

citizenship (helping others and obeying the rules. Choose one of these

character traits and give an example of how you have lived out that trait.

Getting Ready for the Fair

It’s time for the Tama County Fair. What do you pack? These are suggestions. You may have other

things to add. Place a check in front of the item when you have it packed.

Halter Soap Pail/Bucket

Feed Pan Scotch Comb Hose/sprayer

Brush, Rice Root Feed Hay

Show Stick Pitch Fork Wood Shavings for bedding

Anything else that you packed?

1. What are you going to wear when you are in the show ring at the Tama County Fair? (Look at the

fair book for directions.)

2. Be ready to answer the judges questions when you are in the show ring. In this space, pretend

you are talking to the judge. Tell the judge what you like about your calf and what you would change

about your calf if you could.

A Look Back on Goals

1. What were your goals at the beginning of this project?

2. Did you accomplish your goals?

3. What were the most important things you learned about your bottle calf project?

4. What was the biggest problem you had with your bottle calf project?

5. What would you do differently next time?

A look at my bottle calf project. Add any extra pictures of your project here.