[Krooked_S]

I have two jersey Holstein x heifers 13 months old. The issue I have is they seem to be really small. do you think they will grow any more and be able to calve? They are the two on left the Holstein is 6 months old next to them in first pic.

 

[DoubleR]

They will continue to grow. Do you have any shots of them from behind? Would help to see how wide they are.
What are you planning on breeding them to?
What have you been feeding them?
Do you provide minerals?

 

[Krooked_S]

They had calf starter when they were younger then 12% sweet feed grass and hay. We have a mineral lick block. We were going to breed them to a young angus bull.

 

[Krooked_S]

Hit reply to soon sorry

 

[kdixon]

I have a beef cow that is the same. She will be 8months this month and she isn't growing. I got her on grass and that has helped with her pot belly but she still doesn't seem to be growing. I had hoped to breed her but I dont think shes gonna be cut out for it.

 

[DoubleR]

I have a beef cow that is the same. She will be 8months this month and she isn't growing. I got her on grass and that has helped with her pot belly but she still doesn't seem to be growing. I had hoped to breed her but I dont think shes gonna be cut out for it.

8 months old is a minimum 6 months short of when the earliest breeding should occur.
Is your beef calf a bottle calf by chance?

 

[DoubleR]

They had calf starter when they were younger then 12% sweet feed grass and hay. We have a mineral lick block. We were going to breed them to a young angus

I think your worrying about nothing. One looks a hair small to be bred but a few more months should fix that. Add some grain and high quality hay if your in a hurry.
Were these calves bottle calves?
I'd urge you to not breed to a young angus bull. Choose a PROVEN low birth weight bull. Especially is your this concerned about calving problems due to size.
Also I'd highly recommend ditching mineral BLOCKS. Go with loose minerals. They actually consume what they need with loose instead of not consuming the amount they need due to a sore tongue from licking a lot. Just a thought

 

[Krooked_S]

Yes they were bottle calves they were real small when we got them below average

 

[DoubleR]

Yes they were bottle calves they were real small when we got them below average

Thought so. They have that look . That is why they are smaller. It takes months longer for bottle calves to get to where they are breed-able most of the time. The best way to get them caught up is keeping them on starter then grower for a lot longer. Also a good quality hay free choice. We have small stem alfalfa and starter (then grower) available at all times for our bottle calves.

 

[Krooked_S]

Post #4 1st pic it's heifer to right

 

[kdixon]

DoubleR.. we dont breed until 15 months. My point was just that she hasn't grown at all. And I'm not sure she will. Which makes me sad. I've had her since she was a week old and her mama died. I had plans for that girl! Lol

 

[DoubleR]

kdixon,

I wouldn't give up yet. You may be surprised. She may just not be a tall girl. She might just be developing other areas that your not noticing. Sometimes when we see them a lot we don't notice the changes.
Nature doesn't normally stop growth unless they are stunted and she wouldn't look normal if that was the case.
Do you have any pics?

 

[DoubleR]

Post #4 1st pic it's heifer to right

She's cute I think you'd be wise to wait a few more months. She's on the leaner side which will slow her development a bit. Pretty common for bottle calves.
Bottle calves are tough. Like I said before. They are generally behind unless you push the feed to them hard all the way threw. That gets costly quick. I'd just give her a few more months. Maybe up her feed intake if you can.
I personally wouldn't sell her because of this in particular. It's not her fault She's a bottle baby.

 

[kdixon]

DoubleR I would post a pic of her... if only I had a brain! How would I do such a thing???

 

[DoubleR]

DoubleR I would post a pic of her... if only I had a brain! How would I do such a thing???

Lol! No worries! Are you on the app (which app?) or Internet?

 

[kdixon]

Android app

 

[DoubleR]

I'm working on getting information on posting photos via android. I'll get back to you ASAP.

 

[DoubleR]

Here you go Let me know if this doesn't help you

Here are the instructions for the apps.


How to upload photos from mobile devices

1.Go to the thread you want to post a pic to.
2. Click your menu button, then click reply.
3. Type your response then click on "Attachments".
4. That will bring you to a screen where you will have to click "Add Attachment".
5. Pick from Camera, or from Gallery.
6. Pick the picture you wish to upload.
7. Then either add more photos, or click the send button.

 

[kdixon]

Here is a pic of her today. The one she is near is just over a year old.

 

[DoubleR]

I was expecting a whole different pic I certainly wouldn't give up on that heifer!
She looks good. A month of two behind MAYBE but that's a big maybe. The typical bottle calf belly's not there. She looks good. She really doesn't look that far off of where she probably would be with a momma. She'd be a bit more filled out but she doesn't look bad from the photo.