Weaning beef calves can be a stressful process that affects their health and performance. This study explored ways to reduce stress and improve outcomes by testing four weaning strategies and the impact of shipment timing. Researchers evaluated 288 calves...
As calves are weaned in late October and November for spring-calving beef herds, producers are encouraged to use this transition period to assess the body condition scores (BCS) of their cow herds. Weaning provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate...
Summary: Weaning can be a stressful process for calves, affecting their health, growth, and immunity. Using low-stress methods, such as fenceline and two-step weaning, can help ease this transition and support better calf performance during and after weaning.
Weaning Challenges...
Significant stressors like calving, weaning, and shipping have a lasting impact on calf health and productivity. Producers can’t eliminate all stress but can minimize it through careful weaning and preconditioning strategies.
Key Stressors and Weaning Techniques: Weaning ends the calf's...
The majority of Pennsylvania beef producers calve in the spring. With the fall comes time to wean those spring calves and ready them for the feedlot or as retained replacement bulls and heifers. Regardless of where they will ultimately...
Source: New Mexico State University
Using anti-suckling devices in the weaning process of calves is appealing because it facilitates a relatively low-stress weaning approach. Anti-suckling devices work by preventing calves from nursing while allowing the calf and cow to remain...
Source: University of Maryland Extension
By Sarah Potts
Weaning is a stressful time for any animal. Weaning beef calves involves two major stressors: removal of the cow (dam) and removal of a source of nutrition (milk). Producers should strive to reduce...
Source: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
It is expected that cow calf producers will have to deal with increased numbers of weaned calves this fall. Market opportunities for the fall calf run are uncertain. Drought in many parts of the...
Source: North Dakota State University
Traditionally, calves are weaned at six to seven months of age. In typical spring calving herds in the northern Great Plains, this is usually October or November. However, during drought, forage is generally limiting and...
Source: National Farm Animal Care Council, Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle Section 4.6
Weaning is the process of eliminating milk from the calf’s diet (44). Under natural conditions, a cow’s milk output decreases gradually over...
