Are you referring to feed like hay and grain, or milk? Please be more specific so the question can actually be answered.
It doesn't really matter, as it depends on when the calf was born and when you are able to go out and band the calf.
A calf should be given 10% of its body weight in milk, and 2% of its body weight in feedstuffs like hay and grain.
A newborn will not eat any feed. Calves won't begin eating feed until they're at least a week old. Otherwise, you really need to feed colostrum to a newborn for the first 12 to 24 hours, then gradually switch over to milk replacer. You can introduce feed to a calf early, but don't expect it to eat it all like a mature cow will, because a calf is pretty much like a human in that it is more of a monogastric than a ruminant. This means that a calf needs to rely much more on milk than feed for the first few weeks of its life.
Disease or a blockage in the gut will cause a calf to stop eating. This is something you need to take up with your local large animal veterinarian immediately if you wish to have a hope of saving the calf.
This depends upon what stage of development the calf is in. A newborn calf, up to about 4 months of age, cannot digest grain and must be fed milk. After about 6 months of age, the calf is completely swapped over to grain and cannot digest milk. In between, the calf can utilize both.Answer 2:However, unlike what was mentioned above feeding grain to calves at that age is done not all that uncommonly, and it has been noted by researchers that feeding grain to a calf will help better develop its rumen than milk or grass can. A calf may not be able to digest grass or grain as well as an adult cow because of its underdeveloped rumen, but it doesn't stop it from eating it or even experimenting. There is much debate among producers as to whether creeping the calves over to grain while still on their dams is best or not. Many say it's worth it, others disagree. Most of those producers who raise their cattle on grass/hay only will not utilize grain to help fatten or increase the weight of unweaned calves, and simply rely on the ability of the cows' to increase the calf's weights, as well as genetics.But also as mentioned above, this really depends on the weight and age of the calf.
You can start to place grain out for a calf after the first week of age, but they will only take a few mouth fulls each day for the first few weeks. Around 45 to 50 days old they should be actively eating grain.
When a calf suddenly stops eating from the bottle this is an indication that the calf may be ill. The calf should be showing other signs such as coughing or wheezing (pneumonia or cold), cloudy eyes are also an indication for pneumonia. For further diagnostic, contact your veterinarian to determine what is the problem and how to administer the necessary medicine.
This all depends on the breed. Three-month-old calves of different breeding will weigh more or less than the other. For instance, a Charolais calf will weigh more than a Jersey calf, or a miniature Angus calf will weigh less than an Angus calf (one that is normal in size and proportion).
Depends on how old the calf is, but milk replacer mixed with water is what you can feed a baby calf. Also allow it access to hay or grass, grain, and water.
A steer that is grain fed will typically gain 1 or 2 lbs per day more than a grass-fed steer.
You will want to wean at about 5 months of age, be sure to gradually wean the calf, start mixing more water than starter until they are drinking just water, you can do this for about a week or even two. Be sure that the calf is eating forage and start feeding it a calf starter grain (if you haven't already) it is going to need more proteins than calves raised by their mothers.