If you’re planning to wean calves this fall, August is when you need to get started.Don’t wait until weaning day or until the calves are already bawling at the fence. Start now.
Weaning can go smoothly or quickly become a problem. Much of it depends on what you do in the weeks before the calves leave their mothers.
Consider things from the calf’s perspective. In a short time, it might lose its mother, move to a new pen, learn a new feed, drink from a different water source, get vaccinated, and maybe even be transported. That’s a lot for one animal to handle at once.
When calves get too stressed, they’re more likely to get sick, stop eating, lose weight, or fall behind. Issues like respiratory problems, slow weight gain, and extra treatment costs can appear quickly in the first weeks after weaning.
That’s why low-stress weaning is important. It’s not just easier on the calves—it can also mean fewer sick animals, better weight gains, and less money lost after weaning.
The good news is you don’t need anything fancy to make weaning easier. You just need a plan that starts early, spreads out the stress, and helps calves know what to expect before weaning day.
