This is our first foray into calf's. We have four. One Dexter=Galloway born June 6th and three Holstein-Dexter about a month and a half old (all born within days of each other). It is too hard to treat the older one differently and she is as small as the younger ones so we will wean them altogether.

I have been reading websites and books on raising a bottle (actually they drink out of a pan now) calfs. Don't feed them frain, feed them grain, don't let them eat green grass. let them, etc.

How do most of you that raise calfs treat them at 6 weeks? We are feeding them milk twice a day. Let them free feed hay and give them either alf starter or COB with molasses. They seem to be doing well. I was picking a handful or two or green grass as a treat but a neighbor said no way it will give them scours.

Also the holstein mixes still have those bony hips. Sleek coats, bright eyes, seem to be gaining well. Dexter-Galloway is a stout bulky little thing. Do they ever lose that look? How big does the average Holstein-Dexter cross get?

All four of ours are heifers. The farm we got the first one from breeds them to Yaks. Smaller babies but tough as nails. Claim the females are fertile the males are like mules but make great draft animals for a small farm. Hair makes great socks.

Anyone ever try a Yak bull for a cross? Is this an Alaska thing? They are cute looking little things.