Best Practices for Calf Weaning: Reducing Stress and Promoting Health

Ranchers can minimize stress and reduce calf loss by carefully planning the weaning process. Several factors impact calf health and well-being during this critical transition, including changing weather conditions, weaning methods, and proper herd management.

Managing Weather-Related Stress

Extreme weather conditions, such as rain, snow, heat, or mud, can create significant stress for calves. If harsh weather is expected, delaying weaning and ensuring adequate nutrition for both cows and calves can be beneficial. Providing extra feed during these times helps maintain energy levels and supports overall health.

Understanding the Weaning Process

Weaning involves two key components: removing the calf’s ability to nurse and physically separating it from the cow. By 7 to 8 months of age, calves receive minimal nutrition from nursing, as the cow’s milk production declines due to the extended nursing period and decreasing forage quality. The true stressor for calves is not the loss of milk but the separation itself.

Effective Weaning and Backgrounding Strategies

Implementing the right management techniques can ease the transition and support calf well-being:

• Comingle Cows and Calves Before Weaning
  Keeping the herd together before weaning and feeding cows and calves together helps calves adjust to new feeding behaviors. This approach reduces the stress of an unfamiliar environment and encourages social stability, making calves more willing to eat rather than focus on nursing.
• Maintain Some Contact After Separation
  Gradual separation, such as weaning over three days, can reduce anxiety. However, this method may not be practical for all producers. Fence-line weaning, where calves and cows remain close with nose-to-nose contact, can also ease the transition.
• Use Recommended Vaccination Protocols
  Vaccines help mitigate disease risk but should be part of a broader herd health program. Commonly used vaccines for beef herds include those targeting IBR, BRSV, and BVDV types 1 and 2. While bacterial vaccines for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogens are available, their effectiveness varies. Consult with a veterinarian to develop an appropriate vaccination plan.
• Spend Time with Newly Weaned Calves
  Regular interaction between handlers and calves helps familiarize both parties. Calves will exhibit different behaviors, with some allowing close contact and others keeping their distance. Moving calmly and avoiding sudden actions helps create a low-stress environment and allows caretakers to monitor calf health more effectively.

Identifying and Treating Illness

Signs of illness in newly weaned calves include decreased appetite, isolation, drooping ears, nasal discharge, and general lethargy. A single symptom may not indicate a serious problem, but careful observation is crucial. If a calf requires further examination, using a squeeze chute provides safe and effective restraint.

When bacterial infections are suspected, antibiotics may be necessary. Work with a veterinarian to determine appropriate treatments, including medication type, dosage, administration route, and withdrawal times.

Considerations for Pen Size and Sorting

Monitoring large groups of calves can be challenging. While ideal pen sizes for weaning calves are not definitively established, smaller groups—such as 50 calves per pen—allow for easier observation. Sorting heifers and steers at weaning or soon after can also reduce unnecessary interactions and improve management efficiency.

By implementing these best practices, ranchers can create a smoother weaning process, reducing stress and promoting long-term calf health and productivity.