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: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Beef cows are amazing mothers, especially during periods of drought or excess moisture when pasture quality and/or quantity are limited. The cow will sacrifice her body condition and ultimately next year's reproductive performance...
Source: Iowa State University
As forage resources dwindle in times of drought producers may need to consider early weaning options for the cow herd. Early weaning is designed to save body condition on the females by ending lactation and decreasing...
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...
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...
Source: Oregon State University
Introduction
Weaning is considered one of the most stressful periods in the productive life of a beef calf. During the weaning process, calves are exposed to various stressors that include removal from their dam, physiological changes (actively...
Source: Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Weaning can have a lasting impact on a calf. How a producer manages calves before, during, and after weaning can have a dramatic effect on overall calf performance and economic viability.
One of the most stressful...
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...
Source: Pennsylvania State University
The most traumatic experience for cow-calf producers is when they wean their calves-and it is not real great for the calves, either. For the producer, it is about payday for the calf business. For the calf,...
Source: Montana State University
Megan Van Emon, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
According to the United States Drought Monitor, approximately 57% of Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions. As the dry conditions persist, some ranchers may consider early weaning their calves. Early...
