This all depends on how old the calf is and weight, sex of the calf (steer or heifer), the breeding or frame-size of the calf (Simmental vs Hereford, or large-frame vs. medium-frame, for example), what condition the calf is in (sick or healthy, thin or fat), and quality of the hay.
A calf will typically eat 2.5 % of its body weight, but will grow at maybe 3 lbs/day at the most. So, for instance you have a 500 lb calf, that calf would eat about 12.8 to 14 lbs of hay per day (as-fed), more or less. That 500 lb calf, be it a steer or heifer, will grow, and his or her rate of intake will increase ~ 2 lbs for ever 100 lbs he or she gains. Also, be sure that the hay is of good quality with plenty of energy and protein for the calf to gain properly. However, most hays, either grass or alfalfa don't have enough crude protein to meet the demand for 16% requirements of protein for that calf.
Feeding him/her grain or range cubes, at maybe 4 lbs per day for starters, then increase as he/she gets older, will help meet these dietary requirements.
No, but it can have hay. Hay can be given to a calf at any age.
Hay day is an old saying that means an easy day, plenty of play. It was said that a horse would rather eat hay than graze all day for the same amount of feed.
A calf typically consumes around 2-4% of its body weight in milk or milk replacer per day. This can vary depending on the age and size of the calf, as well as their individual growth and health needs. It's important to provide regular feedings to ensure proper nutrition and growth.
Depends on how old the calf is, but milk replacer mixed with water is what you can feed a baby calf. Also allow it access to hay or grass, grain, and water.
A calf should be given 10% of its body weight in milk, and 2% of its body weight in feedstuffs like hay and grain.
All it wants. Hay should be available 24/7. If you have a pasture, that's OK, too, but if not, all the time.
Hay. Or Silage. Or Grass. Or Grain. Take your pick.
Some products from Virginia are milk, tobacco, cattle, calf, hay, corn and eggs.
A calf less than 3 months old is still not ruminating, so it should be fed a high quality milk replacer several times a day. You should also provide clean drinking water (if you wouldn't drink it, it's not clean enough) and good quality grass hay for the calf to munch on.
the same amount that it does now, so about 5 to 8 times a day if they were getting the proper amount of water.
For how long a period are you feeding them? And what size are these cows, if they are really "cows" at all? Either way, I'll give you an estimate. One bovine will eat 2.5% of it's body weight, no matter if it's a cow, a bull, a steer, a heifer or a calf. Thus, one 1000 lb (454 kg) cow, with or without a calf, will eat 25 lb per day. For 100 cows, that's 2500 lbs of hay per day.
A calf that has just been weaned from its mother. It's a calf that no longer relies on its mothers milk for food and growth, but is now dependent on hay, silage, grain, water and mineral for its source of food.