Which is better - bottle feeding or once weaned for a friendly cow?

[Berner Mom]

First let me say thanks to all that respond to my question. Second, I am new to cattle and have 2 mini hereford x lowline yearling bulls that I got this fall. They are great even though I can't touch them. I have already put a deposit down for a heifer calf this spring and am wondering which is better. I want what is best for the calf for a healthy life, but I also want her (she is going to be either a pure mini hereford or the same mix as the bulls) to be touchable. I would like to be able to groom, halter, lead, and eventually milk so I really want her used to being touched/handled.

My plan was to put her in my horse stall which is a 10x12 until she is easily haltered and groomable. I then plan to lead her to her own small paddock (20x40) until she is old enough to be put with one of the boys. As my question stated I have a choice of when to pick her up. So should I bottle feed or wait until she is weaned to bring her home? And if I do bring her home early at what age? A couple weeks or months? She is out in a field with minimal handling until I get her too.

 

[greybeard]

Easiest cow question ever.
Let the breeder do the weaning. FULLY weaned--off the teat and on some kind of feed and hay.
Make sure he understands that definition of weaning and don't wean her "on the trailer". Too much stress doing it that way and giving her new surroundings. I've trailer weaned lots of times, but since you have the option, and as long as the breeder is agreeable, let him/her do it.
Find out what feed the heifer is on and get the same thing even if you have to buy it from the breeder (if it's a custom mix)

 

[Berner Mom]

Thanks greybeard! I thought that would be best but "friends" tell me that the only way to have a friendly cow is to bottle raise them.

 

[Azriel]

cows are very food motivated, if you get her at 6 months or so, keep her in a stall and spend lots of time with her, you should not have a problem getting her friendly and halter broke. What are your plans for the 2 bulls you have? With 2 bulls and 1 cow the boys will be nothing but trouble. You should not plan on being able to get much milk out of either a mini hereford or a lowline mix.

 

[Berner Mom]

I plan on putting one of the boys in the freezer either once she gets old enough or they start having issues with each other. Right now they are keeping each other company. As for milk we don't use much. Mostly half and half for coffee and butter. Getting some fresh would be wonderful. I heard you can get about a gallon a day from a mini and that would be more than I would need. Also with a meat breed I don't want to have to milk it every day if I don't want to. Being able to steal a little milk is really all I am looking for.

 

[Azriel]

If you do not plan on breeding the bulls, you should think about getting one or both made into steers, the meat will be better and they are not going to be as much trouble. Even mini bulls can be very dangerous.

 

[Berner Mom]

I am planning on using one for breeding once my girl is old enough. A little herd of 2 (1 boy and 1 girl) is what I am after. Once she has a heifer calf and is rebred than it'll be time to raise a new boy, and old boy will go in the freezer.

 

[greybeard]

You understand, that there is no guarantee of her having all heifer calves or all bull calves--or even a guarantee of her ever having a bull calf--or ever having a heifer calf? Using the same bull for a number of years, on the same cow herd, I have had years when all calves (or 90% + ) were all heifers and other years where all calves were bull calves.
It is very possible that it will be several breeding seasons before you get a heifer calf and by then, "old boy" will produce very unsatisfactory cuts of beef other than ground meat when processed.