Hi, I love what you’re doing! We are an equine sanctuary but 2 days ago we took 2 calves headed for veal. I know nothing about cows! Other than grass and hay I don’t know how to feed them. I’m up in southern Ontario and I’m concerned about them in the winter. Do you feed soaked alfalfa pellets, oats? I can only find out how to feed cows to make them fat sadly. I’d appreciate any advice! Thanks, Nicki Carlisle Creek Farm
Oh my goodness, wow! This is so amazing of you THANK YOU so much for saving them. We know that’s a huge undertaking! We learned a ton from our neighboring sanctuary Critter Creek who has rescued the most cows of any sanctuary and from our vet. We have 4 cows and 3 of them came to us already weaned from the bottle. I gave them a calf starter grain according to the bag instructions from Tractor Supply during their first winter with us along with rolls of hay. We then rescued our 4th cow and he was a baby who needed to be bottle fed (twice daily by the time we rescued him). Again it was a formula (Unimilk) from tractor supply that I mixed and warmed according to package instructions and bottle fed him twice daily (he was 8 weeks when we received him). I believe it is calf starter grain until they’re 6-7 months old then switch to regular grain and if the grass is growing and lush they may not need grain after that age. You can give them a bottle til about 6 months. Around 4 months when they’re eating grass/hay/grain you can gradually cut back on bottles. We use a multi species mineral (since we have sheep and a mini donkey too) and access to a salt lick. We provide a tub of molasses in the winter as well. I hope this helped - I know there’s so many people out there way more experienced and knowledgeable so keep reaching out and you’ll continue to learn and improve ❤️ thank you so much again!
I have stopped my car and traffic, and moved turtles out of the road FOR YEARS, and would actually see cattle across the street, and never thought about the life of a cow, a pig, a chicken, etc. How conditioned we all were to not notice.
