Early Weaning of Beef Calves An Option for Producers in Drought

BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Early weaning beef calves can help make available grazing last longer by lowering cows' nutritional requirements, South Dakota State University specialists say.
 

"A lot of producers are going to be short on pasture this year," SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist Kent Tjardes said. "This is definitely an option for them to think about if they're facing poor quality and quantity of feeds."
 

Tjardes and colleagues Cody Wright and Don Boggs of SDSU's Department of Animal and Range Sciences have written a publication outlining what producers should know about early weaning. Extension Extra 2031, "Early Weaning Beef Calves," is available from county Extension offices.
 

The publication is online at the SDSU drought Web site at http://sdces.sdstate.edu/drought/. Or find more information on early weaning at an SDSU Department of Animal and Range Sciences Web site, http://ars.sdstate.edu/extbeef/Drought_Management.htm.
 

Weaning calves earlier than the normal 6-7 months of age is a management practice to consider when pastures are short or quality is poor, the specialists say.  Calves have been weaned successfully at less than 2 months of age although normal rumen function is not developed until approximately 120 days of age.
 

Previous research has demonstrated that calves greater than 90 days of age have satisfactory gains without being placed on milk replacers.  Calves can be placed in a drylot on a medium energy diet (net energy of gain greater than or equal to 0.45 megacalories per pound), on a higher quality pasture, or a pasture with supplemental creep feed.
 

Early weaning has several advantages:

•  It lowers the nutrient requirement for the cow to more closely match forage quality and quantity.
•  It increases the carrying capacity of the pasture by reducing the cow’s intake.
•  It gives the cow a better chance to regain body condition before winter.
•  It may improve reproductive performance of cows, both this year and next.
•  There is improved efficiency of gain for the early weaned calf
•  There is improved quality grade of the early weaned calf.

•  More labor is necessary.
•  Facilities and feed are required for early weaned calves.
•  Early weaned calves are more susceptible to stress and subsequent health problems.
•  Early weaned calves may have lower carcass weights or become fatter at lighter weights.

Producers should complete castration, dehorning and branding at least 10 to 14 days before weaning, and should also vaccinate calves against clostridial and viral infections prior to weaning.
 

Adapting calves to creep feed prior to early weaning may aid in starting calves on feed. If calves are placed on a self-feeder and a high quality forage, an intake limiter should be used in the self-feeder to prevent calves from eating too much grain.
 

More detailed information on early weaning beef calves can be found at http://ars.sdstate.edu/extbeef/ or contact you local South Dakota State University county Extension educator or state Extension beef specialists.
 
 

Contact: Kent Tjardes, (605) 688-5460; Cody Wright, (605) 688-5448; Don Boggs, (605) 688-5166
 
 

** For links to other sites showcasing SDSU's work in teaching, research, and Extension, visit http://sdces.sdstate.edu.

Lance Nixon, Editor
AgBio Communications Unit
South Dakota State University
ACC, Box 2231, Rm 200
Brookings, SD 57007
Telephone: (605) 688-4653
Lance_Nixon@sdstate.edu