Raising bucket calves
Living the Country Life Radio Program
If your kids are interested in raising cattle, consider buying bucket calves for your first 4-H or FFA project. Although raising bucket calves is a short-term project, it's a great way to learn responsibility and gain the confidence necessary to care for larger livestock. Bucket calves are newborn calves that can't be raised by their mothers. They get their name because they are fed from a bottle or bucket with a special nipple attached. If your son or daughter wants to show a calf at the county fair during the late summer, look for one born in February or March.
Radio Interview Source: Megan Henry, 4-H'er
For additional information about raising budget calves, we suggest the following Web sites:
Tips for Raising Bucket Calves: How to help your child choose his or her first bucket calf.
Raising a Bucket Calf: Tips for raising bucket calves, including information on housing, feeding, and general medical care.
Once-a-Day Feeding: An explanation of the benefits and potential drawbacks to using a once-a-day feeding method for pre-weaned calf care.
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dizilisi wrote:
I grew up on a tobacco farm in Ontario Canada, and one of the neighbours always raised bucket calves. I always got to help with the calves because I was very patient and loved spending time with all the animals. In fact, I was the only person who could get the bull to go back into the barn when he got out without using sticks or prods. I used to just call him by name and he would follow me. If he got really aggitated and mad, I would go into the barn and stand somewhere in a box stall with the door locked and just talk to him in a soothing voice untill he would calm down and they could handle him again. They finally sold him because they said he was to unpredictable and they were afraid he would hurt somebody. I cried my little eyes out because I loved that old bull. In fact, when I could sneek into the barn undetected, I used to go to the bull and scratch his forehead and back because he would press himself against the bars so I could get at all his itchy spots. I would have been in big trouble if they would have caught me. I finally fessed up when I was older and they still gave me heck! LIZ MATHEWS
1/6/2008 7:10 PM CST
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