How Much Weight Does A Calf Put On Per Month?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Calves will gain

1.5 to 2+ lbs per day

from 4 months of age until weaning. Average daily gain will depend on forage availability and forage type.

How much weight does a calf gain in a month?

Calves will gain

1.5 to 2+ lbs per day

from 4 months of age until weaning. Average daily gain will depend on forage availability and forage type.

How much does a calf weigh when it goes to market?

Their primary product to sell is a weaned calf weighing around

350 to 550 pounds

. Stocker or backgrounding operations purchase the weaned calf from the commercial cow-calf producers. They raise the calves on high forage diets until they are heavy enough to enter the feedlot, which is approximately 600 to 800 pounds.

How much weight does a calf put on a day?

On good feed, a calf will gain

about 1.75 pounds a day

while on its mother.

How long until a calf is 500 lbs?

It will take

over a year (367 days)

to grow a 500-pound calf to 1,000 pounds if its average daily weight gain is 1.5 pounds per day. Some exten sive forage-finishing systems may require a longer duration for calves to reach slaughter weight if forage quality and quantity restrict growth to no more than 1 pound per day.

How much does a 500 pound calf sell for?

A calf that weighs 500 pounds costs

around $700

. As compared to a heifer, bred heifer costs more. A bred heifer can cost around $1,300. Whereas matured cows can cost around $4,000 to $5,000 each.

How much are calves going for 2020?

December 2020 cattle prices were at

$109.25

, down $0.14 from the month before and down $10.95 from the same time last year. Monthly cattle prices averaged $107.67 in 2020. Monthly cattle prices averaged $117.15 in 2019 and $117.07 in 2018. The highest monthly cattle price so far in 2020 was $123.86 in January.

How much hay does a 500 pound calf eat?

Typical stocking rates are

0.75 to 1.75 head per acre

of 400- to 500-pound calves in the fall and winter, depending upon growth, stand, and soil fertility. This can be doubled to 1.5 to 2.5 head per acre in the spring if the wheat is grazed out.

How much grain should a calf eat per day?

pound calf will need to consume in the neighborhood of

7 to 8 pounds of grain daily

. Small amounts of hay will compliment the grain ration for these 8 to 12 week old animals.

How old is a 100 pound calf?

My example 100 pound calf could be

between five to fifteen days old

. She is eating very little calf starter grain. She is depending almost entirely on milk or milk replacer for both energy and protein.

How old is a 700 lb calf?

At

6-9 months

of age the calves are weaned off their dams and placed in a field or pen with other calves of a similar age and weight. Most calves will weigh 500-700 lbs at weaning. These calves will be backgrounded for several months.

How much does it cost to raise a calf to slaughter?

If you retain ownership of the calves and they are the type of calf that can go through a growing period during the winter and grass pasture in the spring and summer, then to a short feedlot phase and the total cost after weaning to slaughter is about $520, then the total cost is

$905 per head

(using cow cost to …

Can you wean a calf at 3 months?

Some people feed the calves while others just wean them on pasture. Calves 4-5 months of age transition better, as they’re used to eating forage. Younger calves are trickier, but

if you can meet the nutrient requirements of calves

just 2-3 months old, they can be successfully weaned that young, Lardy adds.

What weight is best for selling calves?

In general, the value of gain on

300-400 pound

calves tends to be higher than for 500-600 pound calves. Use the light-weight feeder steers as a base to view the price differences as you add weight to various endpoints. This measurement is commonly used by stocker operators.

When should I sell my feeder calves?


If the additional costs per head to gain 100-pounds are going to exceed the market price difference per head

(additional value of gain), you need to sell the feeder calves.

At what age do you sell calves?

Type of Production – calves sold straight off cows – vealers and store weaners – may be left on the cow for up to 10 months, depending on feed available and cow condition. Calves destined for sale as

yearlings or older

can be weaned younger with little effect on their eventual weight and condition.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.