Weaning calves is perhaps one of the most stressful times on the cow-calf operation. The bawling calves are stressed, their mama cows are confused, and the producer is trying to make sure everyone stays where they need to be.
However, with proper preparation, good management practices and quality nutrition, you can lessen the stress incurred on your cattle and yourself at weaning time.
When preparing for weaning and making a management plan, there are several considerations to contemplate. You’ll want to consider the environmental factors that you’ve faced during the year, such as precipitation and temperatures, which impact feed availability. Also, consider calf age and size, cow condition, and the market to know if there will be strong demand for your calves when you are ready to sell them.
Cattle Nutrition Experts
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Timing is Everything
The industry average for weaning calves is 6 to 8 months, with most calves weaned between 7 and 8 months. The age you wean will be most dependent on available feed resources and the condition of the cows. That advice comes from Chris Cassady, Ph.D., Director of Beef Technical Sales at BioZyme Inc.
You will also want to schedule weaning calves when you can get the most out of them financially, either through retained ownership or through a repeat or ready buyer. Remember, weaning is also when you are trying to breed back a cow and grow a new pregnancy, not just continue to grow the current calf at side.
“In years that we are experiencing drought, and our cows are in a little tougher shape, it is an easier choice to consider early weaning,” said Cassady, whose family also owns a registered Angus operation in central Illinois. “Now, if you have a really good year, and you have a warm spring with lots of rain and lots of grass, you might be ok to go longer, closer to 8 months old.”
In addition to cow condition and feed availability, Cassady suggests keeping a close watch on calf supply and demand in the marketplace. If you anticipate an upcycle in the market and increased demand, it may be wise to sell your inventory when you can maximize your profit.
Early Weaning Advantages
Early weaning, like Cassady mentioned, does have its advantages. Typically, early weaning occurs when the calves are 3 to 5 months old. Weaning calves early is the easiest way to help manage your cows’ condition. Furthermore, you won’t have to put as much feed or hay back into her to get her condition back if you pull a big calf from her early on.
“If you have a cow that is losing weight or one you want to keep from getting too thin, you pull that calf off early, because there is nothing that will suck the condition off of a cow faster than a really big, heavy old calf on her side,” he said.
Be Proactive with Health, Nutrition
It is imperative to keep these young calves as healthy as possible before weaning. Cassady suggests getting calves their proper vaccinations or vaccine boosters about a month before weaning. Because each geographic location and situation is slightly different, consult with your veterinarian on what exactly you need. Most pharmaceuticals offer a 7-way or 5-way vaccine to treat multiple bugs. You will also want to worm calves when you vaccinate them.
“If you wait until weaning to vaccinate, that will cause extra stress on the calves. Their immune system is going to be compromised in the first place, and the extra stress will impact the effectiveness of the vaccine, so plan ahead,” he said.
Of course, nutrition is crucial to eliminating your calves’ stress and continuing their post-weaning performance. It is critical to keep that post-weaning gain going if you sell them as yearlings. It is vital to keep their diets somewhat consistent with what they have been accustomed to. Cassady said that a significant diet change will only add to the stress and confusion, so plan accordingly.
Keep your Calves Healthy with VitaFerm
You will want to be mindful of the transition you make with your calves’ diets at weaning. If the calves have been on a total-grass diet, you don’t want to feed them much grain; however, you do want to offer them high-quality hay or forage to keep them on a consistent diet. And if you’ve had them on creep feed while they were still with the cow, continue the same creep feed for a two to three-week period post-weaning while transitioning them to a grower ration.
To keep their gut healthy and encourage eating, provide a dose of VitaFerm Cattle Drench when weaning them.
“Besides birth, this is the time that will set a calf up for performance potential for the rest of its life. Keep them on a positive plane of nutrition. If too much damage is done, you’ll always have a chronically sick calf. You will constantly be behind and be spending money on more feed for it. That is where Amaferm’s technology is so crucial and helpful in that transition period,” Cassady said.
What is VitaFerm® Cattle Drench?
VitaFerm® Cattle Drench with the Vita Charge Technology is the first step to successfully weaning calves. This drench for cattle is designed to support digestive health before, during and after challenges. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. Cattle Drench also contains MOS (mannan oligosaccharides), which helps normalize the gut microflora and supports the immune system and enzymes to generate a more rapid digestive response.
Using this drench as you process the calves at weaning helps keep their gut healthy and functioning. We know that 70% of the immune response starts within the digestive system so that a healthy gut will lead to a healthy animal.
VitaFerm Cattle Drench is the first step in the Gain Smart Weaning Program. Each of the products in the Weaning Program—the Cattle Drench, VitaFerm Stress Tubs and Gain Smart Minerals—contains Amaferm.
Why Does Amaferm Matter?
Research shows that calves that are fed just 4 ounces of Amaferm daily are likely to increase gains by ¼ of a pound per day. More efficient gains lead to faster gains and healthier calves.
Do you want to wean calves from cows in a low-stress, efficient manner? Do you want calves that gain healthy, economic pounds and ultimately add to your bottom line? Wean calves in a low-stress way and get them started right with VitaFerm Cattle Drench.
Keep their Gut Working with Stress Tubs
“Coupling a one-time dose of VitaFerm Drench with the VitaFerm® Stress Tubs is an excellent way to reduce stress and promote feed intake,” Cassady encouraged.
VitaFerm Stress Tubs contain MOS, organic trace minerals, and a heat-tolerant Bacillus probiotic in a convenient way to ensure calves get their daily dose of Amaferm. Available in both 50-pound and 200-pound sizes, they serve as a great accompaniment to creep feed and forages, promoting health and gain.
Get Your BioZyme Products Today!
Are you ready to wean your calves the stress-free way and incorporate Amaferm into your weaning program? You can buy BioZyme products from one of our dealers. Find a BioZyme dealer near you.
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