The value of a bottle calf 

It’s that time of year again, the warmth of the sun has returned, the Bermuda grass is coming out of dormancy, my ghost white legs are seeing some sun, the canola fields are blooming beautifully—in contrast to their horrid stench—and there are bottle calves bawling for their milk behind my house.  

It never fails; we always seem to end up with at least one bottle calf each spring—but last year we had five! At this time last year, I was pregnant with my first child and carrying five bottles out to feed our “herd” every day. Trying to protect my baby bump while fending off rambunctious bull calves was a sight to see. 

Bottle babies are a lot of trouble, and no one wants to have a calf in need of a nurse maid. They require care at least twice a day and they are frequent flyers for sickness—particularly scours. Additionally, milk replacer is expensive and the payoff for the work and time put into feeding orphan calves is months or years in the future depending on when they are sold. 

Many ranchers don’t have the time or desire to raise them, so they are often sold as soon as they take to the bottle. Not us, we always keep them—even though my husband continues to say “never again” or “I’m so sick of feeding these calves I’m about to sell them and make them someone else’s problem!” 

This spring, the value of bottle calves skyrocketed due to the incredibly high prices the cattle markets have been experiencing. Depending on the market, some newborn calves have been bringing between $700 to $1,000. When they bring that kind of money, they become more of an investment for those who raise them. 

To me, bottle calves bring responsibilities, but they also bring joy and fulfillment. When we bring home a weak and hungry 2-day-old calf and nurse it back to life with milk replacer and a prayer, the feelings of joy and gratification are overwhelming. Our intervention really is the difference in life and death for these helpless animals. 

Once they are weaned and ready to go on grass, I always video them when they are released for the first time. There is nothing more triumphant than seeing these calves run and buck as fast as they can while exploring their new pasture. It’s a graduation ceremony of sorts and it’s so satisfying to witness. 

Yes, these little cuties are worth a pretty penny right now, but the sense of achievement in raising these motherless babies and watching them grow and develop, has always been worth a bundle to me—no matter the monetary value. I’ve also received a hefty return on investment just by seeing them thrive, but the extra dollars this year sure do sweeten the deal—and my husband’s disposition when it’s his turn to feed them!

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].