– Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist
Learn more weaning management at Stockmanship & Stewardship, Sept 29-30.
The weaning process can have a significant impact on the health and future productivity of the calf. Proper weaning management and assuring that quality and performance of the calf are optimized will be included in a number of presentations by quest veterinarians during the upcoming Stockmanship & Stewardship program in Caldwell, Ohio on September 29 and 30. Find more details about the Stockmanship & Stewardship program below, and in the meantime consider the following concerns regarding weaning management.
THE WEANING PROCESS: Weaning can be one of the most stressful events in the life of a calf. Once these stressors occur within a matter of days, you are asking for trouble. Calves are the most susceptible to shipping fever (Bovine Respiratory Disease) when they are 6-8 months of age. Earlier in life, calves are protected from disease by maternal antibodies from colostrum. When calves are yearlings, they have a fully developed immune system and are better able to respond to a disease challenge.
Based on one survey (NAHMS) fifty percent of us wean calves based on age and weight. Typically, we take a 7-month old calf when it is most susceptible to disease and we put a whole bunch of stress on it. Weaning, trucking, vaccination, no feed, no water, crowding, co-mingling, new pathogens, new source of feed, and new source of water.
The best way to keep calves healthy is to vaccinate before calves are stressed and to reduce, eliminate, or spread out the stress calves are exposed to. Bottom line is that stressed calves don’t respond as well to vaccines. If you don’t vaccinate prior to these stresses, some calves may not develop antibodies soon enough to be protect them from respiratory disease upon entering the feedlot. To implement a vaccination program for calves is there a time you are working the cows prior to weaning. If you are doing pregnancy checking of cows this might be a convenient time to do some vaccination of calves. Work with your veterinarian in developing a feasible system for your operation.
An interesting twist you might consider is “weaning the cows.” The first step is moving the cow-calf pairs to small pastures near the corral or pens that you have good quality forage. This allows the calves to become accustomed to the environment. The cows are then put in the pens for a few days and the calves remain on pasture and are provided a supplement. The better the pasture, the less supplement may be needed. The pasture is probably less dusty than the pens and the calves have become accustomed to the pasture. This may not reduce bawling by the cows but may reduce the bawling by the calves. The cows are then moved out of the corral after 3 days. Like the other systems the source of water and feed for the calves is kept close to the corral at least for the first few days. Another option is to use a combination of pen and pasture weaning.
Regardless of the system used, weather is a major factor for success. Watch the weather reports to locate a good window for at least the first 3-4 days of the actual weaning process.
HEALTH MANAGEMENT AT WEANING: Heifers should be vaccinated against Vibrio fetus, Leptospirosis, and the respiratory disease complex which includes PI3, BRSV, BVD, and IBR. A modified-live vaccine is preferred because it generally stimulates a better immune response. A typical strategy is to vaccinate using killed vaccines 3 weeks before weaning and then follow up with MLV booster. Heifers also may need to be dewormed at this working.
To learn more about proper weaning management plan now to attend Stockmanship & Stewardship, being hosted at the OARDC Eastern Agricultural Research Station in Caldwell on September 29 and 30, 2023. Stockmanship & Stewardship is a unique two-day educational experience featuring low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance educational sessions, facility design sessions to best run your operation and industry updates you won’t find anywhere else. Learn from stockmanship experts Curt Pate, Ron Gill and others and get BQA certified! Find more details or register at https://www.stockmanshipandstewardship.org/