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Should I
Early Wean My Calves This Year?
From "Beef: Questions & Answers" newsletter*
by John Paterson, MSU Extension Beef Specialist
With continued drought and lack of available
forage for the cow herd, early weaning may be one option for ranchers to
consider this year. The following excerpts about the pros and cons of early
weaning were summarized from recommendations made by beef extension specialists
from around the United States.
Russ Danielson, North Dakota State University
Weaning calves early may become a necessary option when
forage supplies are limited as a result of drought conditions. Early weaning
lowers the nutrient requirements of the cow and increases the carrying capacity
of stressed pasture. Weaning calves prior to the traditional age of six to seven
months can increase stress and reduce calf performance if proper health,
nutrition and management practices are not followed. Conversely, weaning after
pastures have severely deteriorated will also result in poor calf performance.
From the standpoint of the cow, the advantage of early weaning during drought
periods is usually reflected in less body condition loss and improved conception
rates. Overgrazing drought-stressed pastures will have long-term effects on
forage production by reducing plant vigor and increasing less desirable plant
populations.
How early can calves be weaned?
Calves have been weaned successfully at less than two
months of age, but this is younger than is practical under most conditions. The
rumens of calves are normally functioning sufficiently at 120 days of age to
provide satisfactory gains without the benefit of milk or milk replacers.
Therefore, weaning March- and April-born calves in late July/early August is
preferred to an earlier weaning date.
Are there special health considerations?
The stress of early weaning directly influences the health
and well-being of the calf after weaning. Complete castration, dehorning and
branding at least 10 to 14 days prior to weaning. Provide protection from
clostridial and viral infection by vaccinating calves prior to weaning with a
seven-way clostridial injection, IBR-BVD vaccines and other
veterinarian-recommended protection. If a "booster" or re-vaccination
is required for any vaccine, it is essential that label recommendations are
followed. Calves should always have access to clean water, and a complete
mineral package should be offered in loose form. Monitor calves regularly for
signs of respiratory problems, digestive disturbances, scours, coccidiosis and
sorting of feed.
What is the best bunk management?
The palatability and acceptance of offered feed is
critical to ensuring adequate feed intake by early weaned calves. Calves need to
consume 2.5 to 3.0 percent of body weight in dry feed daily to have satisfactory
performance. Offering high-quality, easily digested feeds and roughages in a
form that calves will consume is important bunk management. Calves should be
creep fed starting three weeks before weaning to minimize stress and ensure
adequate feed intake following weaning. Initially, newly weaned calves should be
offered long-stem grass hay, the form they are most familiar with. Once weaned
and on feed, calves will prefer chopped forage to long-stem hay. Add alfalfa
gradually over a 14-day period as calves start on feed. Mix the grain portion
with the forage to encourage consumption of the concentrate. If the calves sort
and consume the grain leaving the forage, adjust the type of forage to make the
total ration more palatable. Over-consumption of grain can lead to bloat and/or
acidosis in the calves. Minimize dust in the ration and control it by adding
three to five percent molasses. Calves weighing 300 pounds should consume eight
to nine pounds of dry feed daily. A 50:50 roughage-grain mix containing 13 to 15
percent protein generally will provide satisfactory calf performance, provided
the feeds are high quality and not stale or rancid. A minimum average daily gain
of two pounds is required to compete with calves weaned at six to seven months
of age. Hand feeding whole oats or a commercial starter to ration
with free choice, quality grass hay is an excellent way to start calves on feed.
Once through the weaning process and on feed, calves may be switched to a
balanced mixed ration offered in a self feeder.
What are the facility requirements?
Initially, calves should be penned in a small, secure,
well-sheltered pen or pasture when weaned. A more confined area will reduce the
amount of pen travel. In drought conditions, respiratory problems caused by dust
are a real possibility. Provide sufficient, accessible bunk space and water
sources. Locate the feed bunks and water source near the perimeter fence,
forcing calves to access feed and water as they travel the fence line. If
possible, place one or two older calves that are accustomed to bunk feeding with
the younger calves to teach by example. Initially, limit the number of calves to
20 to 25 per pen for the first few days. Smaller, more timid calves may not be
able to eat or drink adequate amounts when competing with a large number of
calves. After 10 to 14 days, calves can be successfully grouped in a larger pen.
Jack Whittier, Colorado State University
Oklahoma researchers reported a 37 percent advantage (97%
vs 59%) in conception rate for first-calf heifers that began calving in February
and then had their calves weaned every two weeks at six to eight weeks of age
compared to heifers whose calves were weaned at seven months. Additionally, the
average interval from calving to conception was shortened by 18 days (91 vs. 73
days).
The positive results of this study are likely because the
heifers were in thin or marginal body condition at calving. To evaluate the
potential long-term effect of early weaning on reproduction in first-calf
heifers, an experiment was conducted by Missouri researchers.
The objective of this study was to determine if weaning
calves from first-calf heifers at the beginning of the breeding season following
their first calving would allow them to gain sufficient weight and body
condition to improve rebreeding in subsequent years
with minimum feed inputs to the dam. Angus-sired heifers (n = 141) were assigned
at breeding time to either normal weaning at seven to eight months or early
weaning at the beginning of the breeding season. All heifers were synchronized
for estrus using Syncro-Mate-B. At the time of implant removal, all calves were
temporarily weaned for 48 hours. After 48 hours, the normal weaned calves were
returned to their dams while the early weaned calves were placed in a drylot for
feeding.
The early weaned dams were heavier and higher in body
condition at their first weaning than the normal weaned dams. However, by their
second weaning there was no differences between cows. There was no statistical
difference in pregnancy rate at any year. However, the normal weaned dams had
numerically lower pregnancy rates each year following the weaning management
treatment. Remember, the only difference in management between the two
treatments occurred during their first lactation.
Early Weaning in Mature Cows
There has been a good deal of research done with early
weaning programs in mature cows. The results vary depending on available quality
and quantity of forage and body condition of the cows. Weaning calves during or
soon after the breeding season in drought years is an accepted practice for
stretching a limited forage supply.
Success and performance of calves weaned from two to four
months of age is greatest when high concentrate, highly palatable diets are fed.
It is not necessary to use a milk substitute in calves at this age since their
rumen is capable of some function by this age and will adapt rather quickly to a
high concentrate diet. Calves older than four months will digest forages
adequately, but their nutrient requirements are high and may not be met by only
forage diets.
With proper management, it is possible for young, early
weaned calves to perform well. Oklahoma researchers compared several management
schemes. One
group of steers was weaned at 3.5 months of age and placed
in a feedlot, while the other groups were weaned at eight months of age and
managed on various growing and finishing programs. All steers were fed to
similar fat thickness and slaughtered. The feedlot feed efficiency greatly
favored the early weaned calves (5.3 pounds of feed per pound of gain) over
older cattle (feed/gain of 8.4 for those weaned at eight months and grazed on
native range the full season before entering the feedlot). There was also a
significant economic advantage to the early weaned calves: They returned $176.62
per head, while the least favorable comparative group lost $106.56.
Other studies have shown reduced performance in calves
that were early weaned. In most of these studies calves were not fed or managed
intensively. Certainly the cost of more intensive feeding and management must be
balanced against the benefits received. The potential cost savings or improved
reproduction from the dam whose calf is early weaned must also be factored when
evaluating calf performance.
Daryl Strohbehn, Dan Loy and Nolan Hartwig, Iowa
State University
Early weaning trials at Iowa State University have shown
that separating the calf from the cow at 45 days of age brought on heat 12 days
earlier and improved conception rates six percent. In addition, cows were in a
positive state of gain due to lower nutrient requirements. Calf performance up
to 200 days was similar for early vs. late weaned calves, and that was during
normal moisture years. In drought years, there is every reason to expect early
weaned calves to perform better.
In order to accomplish early weaning, proper facilities
and techniques are a must. An excellent fenced area is required. During the
first week under dry conditions, the walking of calves will pulverize the top
soil ,causing dusty conditions. It would be best to wet down the lot every day
to minimize the dust problem, causing less irritation to the calves' respiratory
tracts. Feed bunks are important. Bunks for lightweight, early weaned calves
should not be over 18 inches tall. Allow at least 18 to 24 inches of bunk side
for each calf.
At what age should you wean?
Results from Iowa State University and other universities
show calves can be effectively weaned as early as 45 days. However, results are
best when they are 90 to
120 days of age. No matter what age, it is best if the calves have been exposed
to grain at least 10 days before weaning. Hopefully, within 10 days the calves
will be consuming about one pound of grain mix daily per head. In starting early
weaned calves on the feed ration, go slowly with gradual increases in feed
offered. Don't load the feedbunk and leave it until the ration is gone.
Remember, a one-pound change in feed intake withî light weight calf is
considerable and can lead to digestive upsets. Light calves (200 to 300 pounds),
need a ration that contains 14 to 17 percent crude protein and 70 to 80 percent
TDN. This can not be done with a straight hay diet.
F.L. Fluharty, Department of Animal Sciences, The
Ohio State University
Effects on Subsequent Performance
An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of
diet on calves weaned at either 100 days of age (early-weaned) or 205 days of
age (normal-weaned). Early-weaned calves had a greater average daily gain (ADG)
than normal-weaned calves from 100 to 205 days of age. This resulted in
early-weaned calves having heavier weights at 205 days of age if fed either 100%
or 90% concentrate diets compared with normal-weaned calves. At slaughter,
early-weaned calves had a higher quality grade than normal-weaned calves.
Backfat, ribeye area, dressing percentage, and yield grade were not affected by
age at weaning or diet prior to 205 days of age.
Keith Lusby, former Extension Beef Specialist,
Oklahoma State University
Early weaning could have obvious economic benefits when
forage for the lactating cows is lacking or when cows are in such poor condition
at breeding that adequate rebreeding performance is impossible. However, the
limiting factor for wide use of early weaning has been efficient management of
the early-weaned calf. The benefits of early weaning to the cow can be realized
only if weaned calves can be successfully and economically raised with minimal
facilities, labor and feed costs.
If you would like to receive additional information on
early weaning strategies, please call John Paterson (406-994-5562) or Rick
Funston (406-232-8223).
Each issue of Beef: Questions & Answers this year
will include a profile of ranch operations around Montana.
* Beef: Questions &
Answers is a joint project between MSU Extension and the Montana Beef Council.
This column informs producers about current consumer education, promotion and
research projects funded through the $1 per head checkoff. For more information,
contact the Montana Beef Council at (406) 442-5111 or at beefcncl@mt.net
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