Re: Kefir or Yogurt for calves?

[Guest guest]

I personally would master kefir. It's just better all around than

yogurt. See this link...

http://www.kefir.net/kefir3.htm

ecodairyfarms wrote:

>We are an organic dairy farm and I have access to high quality grass-

>fed organic milk. I would like to either make yogurt or kefir to

>feed to our calves when they are not as thrifty as they should be.

>On the same lines, in raising my own children, what are the opinions

>on what I should concentrating on mastering? Yogurt or Kefir?

>Why.?

>

>I greatly appreciate the discussions on kefir and yogurt from the

>RawDairy group. I have really learned a bunch! Thank you for the

>links too!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ecodairy et al,

I'd was planning to make yougart for our organic dairy calves too but

apparently keifer is anti-protozoal (crytpo and coccidoisis are a big

concern). I think I'll try mass keifer.

Meg Cattell

Windsor Dairy

[Guest guest]

,

The warmer your milk, the quicker your kefir grains will begin working.

And everything digests better when it is closer to body temperature.

Whatever their body temp is, that is the temp I would feed it to them.

As far as the palatability, yikes! Not sure. Do calves like things

tart? I wouldn't think so. I would put a little sweetener in it for

them if they were mine. Honey perhaps? Or maple syrup? You would know

best there.

wrote:

> I have gone in the direction of Kefir in mass production for the

>calves. I am waiting on my first order of grains. Since posting the

>question on RawDairy, I have found kefir_making and have

>learned a lot.

> I am not sure if I will pull the milk straight from the cows with

>temp around 101 to start the kefir or get it out of the tank at 37 degrees?.

>Any input on that?

> I think I will just make in the 2 qt calf bottles, straining my

>grains and leaving a little milk to start the next batch. Should I feed the

>kefir warm to calves or room temp. Milk is best fed to calves around 100

>degrees. Any input?

> Should I add anything to the kefir before feeding to make it more

>palatable for the baby calves? Should I dilute it at all with milk or feed

>straight?

>

> @ EcoDairy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I'd love to hear how you do with the keifer making and feeding.

Anise has been shown to be the prefered flavor additive for dairy

calves.

Meg