Weaning is one of the most important times for a cattle producer. It is a time for all of their hard work begins to pay off with a nice large calf crop. Though it may be of benefit to the producer it doesn’t come without its problems.
It is also considered one of the most stressful times in the life of that calf. During this time they are exposed to various stressors that include being removed from the momma, physiological changes, castration, vaccination, dehorning, and the list goes on. With all of this going on it is no wonder that often times calves suffer from all sorts of maladies.
These various stressors can result in tremendous challenges to the calf’s short-term and long-term health and performance. Studies have shown that calves that get sick or become sick during the first 30 days of weaning typically have lower daily gains and increased costs of gain.
So with the importance that weaning plays in that calf’s life, it is important that you get it started on the right foot. The steps that you take now can have an impact that will last the rest of its life. But how can you go about doing that? Here are 5 tips you can follow to make sure that happens.
Tip #1: Spread out the weaning stressors
The goal of the weaning day should be the separation of the calf from its momma. Since this is gonna be stressful enough for the calf the goal is to not have other stressors added to it. Things like vaccination, nutrition, and shipping should all have different designated days. This is necessary to minimize the stress on the calf’s immune system.
Calves that are shipped off the ranch 45 to 60 days after weaning are able to adjust to maternal separation and their new nutrition before adding the stress of a new environment. If it is not feasible for you to keep them that long then you can consider using a proven backgrounder who is close by.
Tip#2: Examine your vaccination strategy
The vaccines that you use present another stress management option. This is because some products can themselves be a significant source of stress. An example of this is because intranasal vaccines are applied within the calf’s nose their contents do not enter the bloodstream where most adverse reactions are initiated.
The timing of the vaccines is also important. Instead of waiting to vaccinate calves when they reach the feedyard vaccinating 2 to 3 weeks prior is ideal. The problem with waiting till they arrive is that they can be exposed to the disease before the vaccine can that effect. Doing it before they arrive will provide early protection against respiratory and clostridial diseases. Booster doses can be given once the calves have settled down often times signaled by them eating well. Generally, this happens 2 to 3 weeks after weaning.
Tip #3: Think about using creep feeding
Nutrition does play a big role in transitioning a calf from nursing to grazing grass to weaning. One low-stress nutrition program is using creep feeding. Creep feeding is a great way to teach calves to eat from a feed bunk.
Start by offering calves a grain supplement that will help them keep gaining weight. When you do this once the cows are removed calves will be adapted to the grass and supplemental feed bunk. With a smoother transition, they will continue to gain weight efficiently.
Starter rations should be nutrient-dense so the calves get adequate energy requirements. They should also have natural protein feeds, no urea or NPN, and no fermented feeds. Moving them up in steps is key when using a starter ration. Calves should be eating 1.5% of their body weight each day before transitioning to a grower diet. If you are providing forages make sure that it is high-quality in order to aid in digestibility since the rumen is still developing.
Introduce creep feeding 2 to 6 weeks prior to weaning. If you are interested in learning more about creep feeding then check out one of my previous posts ” The Pros and Cons of Creep Feeding”. Also, providing access to water troughs before weaning will also help calves learn that not all water is in a pond or stream.
Tip #4: Mineral Supplementation is Important
There are important minerals and vitamins that every calf needs for strong immunity. Ideally, they should be consuming minerals well before weaning. Mineral deficiencies will contribute directly to immune function deficiencies.
Some examples are severe selenium, zinc, and copper deficiencies among calves tend to result in decreased feed intake, reduced efficiency, and lower weight gains. A zinc deficiency can also lead to increased foot problems. Moderate deficiencies of these minerals can be harder to recognize but cause similar symptoms. This is why a deficiency in minerals can be the underlying cause of poor calf performance in the feedlot.
Supplemental vitamins further support immune functions in calves. Vitamin A plays an influential role in the weaning process by maintaining the health and integrity of the tissues lining the respiratory system. This is especially important for bawling calves living in dusty or confined conditions.
Which minerals are most important for peak calf performance? Sadly there is no exact recipe for mineral supplementation for all scenarios. The minerals deficiency will depend on many different factors that are unique to each situation. These factors are forage quality, soil factors, region of the country, time of year, and even the type of animal.
Tip #5: Consider the economic impact of implants
Implants can have a significant impact on the calf’s economic outcome. Though this will depend on certain scenarios. If an owner is going to be weaning and keeping the calves for 6 weeks or longer then implants may be of value.
The good thing about implants is that the investment is low versus the amount of return you will get. The return on your investment can be as much as $30 to $40 per head. Implanting can be added to a preconditioning program. Ideally, you want to implant about 3 weeks prior to weaning.
If you are wanting to learn more there are many articles out there about weaning including one by South Dakota State titled “Preparing the Beef Calf for Weaning”.
