We wean calves for a variety of reasons beyond it being standard operating procedure on the farm. In years like 2012 during the drought, a lot of

We wean calves for a variety of reasons beyond it being standard operating procedure on the farm. In years like 2012 during the drought, a lot of producers had to wean early because they didn t have enough feed for both cow and calf. Sometimes cows are thin and weaning the calf early will help her pick up weight before heading into winter. Producers also wean young cows (two year olds) to help them gain some weight and grow a little more after her calf is weaned. Sale contracts and other farm activities such as family events or construction projects may require producers to wean on a particular date. 2

Facilities are the biggest driving factor why producers don t wean. They don t have the appropriate facilities to wean and hold calves safely from the cows, so they improvise and wean calves on the truck. The calves are corralled and put on the truck and weaned all in the same time frame. Sometimes producers don t see the value in the extra work to wean calves. They also don t have time or the extra help to separate and wean calves on their own. 3

Fence line weaning is still the gold standard of weaning. Cows and calves get to see each other, and slowly get used to not being with each other. Completely removal (truck) or move to another farm completely separates the calves from the cows and they never see each other again. It is an abrupt removal. Anti nursing devices, or a two step tag is a newer way to wean calves. We ll talk more about them in this presentation. 4

Weaning is good for the cow and the calf. The cow immediately benefits from weaning since she starts to dry off and put nutrients into her body instead of putting it into the calf. The cow requires less food and she maintains condition easier. 5

Familiarizing calves with weaning day feed and facilities will make for an easier transition. Starting them on the diet they will get on weaning day takes out one of their weaning day stressors. If they find familiar feed in the bunk, they will be more likely to eat and not bawl due to stress. Acquainting them with their new (future) surroundings will also help take out a weaning day stressor. Allowing them to walk through the squeeze chute (or near it) will help with cattle flow on weaning day and reduce injury from frightened calves. 6

Focus on the importance of why weaning, dehorning, and castration should not be done all at once. Yes, the bull calf is going to grow bigger and faster than a steer calf, but castrating and dehorning is better for the calf the earlier it is done. Also, no one at a sale barn wants to buy calves with blood all over their heads, it s just another reason for them to not buy your calves. 7

Plan for cool weather if you can, not always an option, but a possibility. Have people on hand who know what they are doing. Sometimes doing it yourself is easier than having people around who are clueless. HAVE GOOD PEOPLE HELPING YOU. Having a cooler or refrigerator near the chute will ensure your vaccines are kept at the proper temperature Note disposition, a calf that freaks out in the chute early on may not be a calf you keep in your herd. She s likely to do that again as a holder heifer or cow. Fill the bunk with the starter diet the calves are used to, it will help with transition. 8

I start out with this picture. Ask the audience if this fence line weaning is working at this farm. NO!! Of course not, we have a bunch of calves and three big cows. The cows jumped the fence. It only takes one cow to ruin a whole day s worth of work weaning calves. You need a sturdy fence. That goes without saying, but it s true. 9

Ask if anyone is using the anti nursing tags. If anyone is, ask what their experiences are with them. 10

Additional research from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Canada. Nothing earth shattering here. The calf wants his mom, replacement cows don t work. 12

Complete separation is a common practice because calf housing is often located at another farm. While it is not optimal to reduce calf stress, it is preferable over just putting the calf on the trailer. In this case, you can monitor calves for disease and stress and provide the pre weaning diet until they are ready to ship. 13

Truck weaning is very difficult on calves. They have an increased likelihood of respiratory disease due to a weakened immune system. They spend a significant amount of time bawling and pacing which means they aren t eating, drinking, or resting. The likelihood of your calves all ending up in the same pen at the same feedlot is extremely slim. Calves get to the market and get sold and resold all the time and it s very possible a truck full of 50 calves bound for the feedlot came from 50 different farms. Dr. Temple Grandin has done research on this topic and stressed calves intermingled with calves from other farms don t do well in this situation. 14

According to Iowa State University research, the most common health problem with calves in a feedlot is respiratory disease. 2001 data shows 57% of deaths in feedlots are due to respiratory disease. 15

The Unweaned and unvaccinated calves at the sale barn may as well be called the walking dead. Buyers know when they see these calves, they are bawling, shrunk up, sometimes with the bloody heads from dehorning, and at this point may already be showing signs of respiratory disease. 19

Pre Conditioning calves is a good way to get them off to a good start and improve the quality of your product. The sale barns are moving to the idea that a pre conditioned calf is not a premium, but a base. Any calf that is not weaned, vaccinated, castrated, or dehorned is a discount. 20

Pre conditioned calves do not need to have been on heavy feed or forages before sale, a good quality pasture conditioned calf is also a good way to increase your sale price. 24

The sale barn in your marketer, they should be working for you to get you the best price for your calves. If you provide this worksheet (or any worksheet) showing what has been done to the calf and when, that s an added perk to the buyers. They want to buy calves they know are going to have the best chance to transition into the feedlot. Besides getting a good price, buyers get to know your reputation based on your calves. If you provide a good product, they ll keep coming back and pay for it! 26

Early weaning is an option for several reasons. You may be short on feed, pasture, or want to cull cows. In Wisconsin, early weaning is not typically a practice we see because we have plenty of pasture. We live in Wisconsin, we like to see the big calf with the cow, it makes us feel like we re raising good calves. Out west, they prefer to wean the smaller calf off small cows, it makes for good compensatory gain profits. The University of Nebraska has done research on early weaning. You can reduce a cow s feed quality requirement by 30% after weaning. Early weaned calves eat significantly less at weaning, about half what a traditionally weaned calf eats. 28

The early weaned calf has a smaller GI tract which reduces his maintenance requirements. If you re raising calves to finished weight, early weaned calves actually reprogram cells to store more fat which equates to more marbling in the cooler. Cows who wean a calf early also have better conception rates (if we re talking calves weaned at 60 90 days). 29