Rose Family Farm

Getting to Know the Farm Animals
Dairy Beef Calves

Meet Noah, A Dairy Beef Calf!
Hear my sound.

Dairy beef calves are calves born to a dairy cow that are removed from the mother very early so that her milk can be used to produce milk for human consumption. Don't worry these little guys get a milk replacer. Usally the heifers or young female calves are raised for replacements in the milking herd. But the young bull calves are usally raised for what is referred to as dairy beef. Dairy beef calves do not grow as fast or as meaty as the beef breeds. Their breeds have been selectively raised over the years to be built for mass milk production not fast meat production. Dairy beef calves can be of any dairy breed but the most common are Holstein, Jersey, or Brown Swiss.

On our farm the dairy beef calves get bucket feed milk replacer till they are old enough to eat enough grain to sustain their needs. This is usally about 6-8 weeks. Although they are drinking milk replacer from a bucket they are also offered water in a bucket and a small portion of fresh grain to nibble on. As they get a little older they are also offered fresh hay.