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Jake Troutt
Justin Sexten

On Target

Managed weaning.

Weaning is one of the most stressful times for calves due to health challenges and dietary changes. By managing to minimize stress at this stage, you’ll also minimize shrink and give calves the best opportunity to meet their genetic potential for growth and carcass merit later.


Tailor a health program to your ranch goals by first visiting with your local veterinarian. Build that relationship as you review health plans and you’ll be ready when the veterinary feed directive goes into effect in January 2017. You will need to prove the veterinary-client-patient relationship then to obtain certain antibiotics.


You may have started preparing for weaning health at branding or prebreeding by vaccinating calves for clostridia (blackleg) and respiratory diseases. If not, consider vaccination three to four weeks prior to weaning, with booster shots at weaning. Preweaning vaccinations in late summer can be a challenge due to summer heat or distant working facilities, so keep that in mind when discussing options with your veterinarian.


The facilities can be a source of stress for both cattle and rancher at weaning, so take time before gathering calves to make sure all are in good repair and pen waterers are clean and ready for calves. Clean water is the most important nutrient a calf needs, whether stressed or not.


Fenceline weaning can reduce calf stress and improve weaning health. Placing calves across the fence from the cows reduces walking and helps address the challenge of getting calves to feed and water. Whether across the fence or farm, orient the weaning pastures and pens so the cows draw the calves to feedbunks and waterers.


Depending on weaning stress, calves may take one to three weeks to consume enough feed to allow weight gain beyond maintenance. As a rule of thumb, they need to eat 2% of body weight in feed to provide enough nutrients for growth. If calves were creep-fed, consider using the same creep feed to transition them to the postweaning diet.


Commodity feeds like grain can be used at weaning to get calves accustomed to eating, but work with your feed supplier or nutritionist to make sure the diet is suited to calves’ growth potential and your marketing goals. Develop an energy-dense feed with balanced protein sources to overcome that reduced intake associated with weaning stress. Weaning onto a vegetative pasture will provide calves with a familiar feedstuff but should be supplemented to ensure adequate nutrients for growth.


Offering hay during the first week of the transition has increased feed intake and gain. The forage available during weaning should be high in quality, palatable and fed daily if possible rather than offered as a bale. Providing hay in the feedbunks rather than in a bale ring can help calves find feed earlier. When hay is offered in a ring, calves may not approach the bunk as quickly, prolonging the time to consume adequate feed for gain.


Monitoring feed intake is one of the best indicators to gauge weaning program success. Until calves get well-started on feed, consider feeding multiple times each day to increase observations and stimulate calves to come to the bunk. Unless bunk space is limited, avoid using the self-feeder in the weaning pen until calves are started on feed. Ideally, calves should have 18 inches of bunk space to ensure timid ones can get to the bunk.


Taking steps to minimize weaning stress promotes long-term health, performance and carcass merit.

 

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Editor’s Note: Justin Sexten is director of supply development for Certified Angus Beef LLC.



 

 

 


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