‘I’m sorry for the stress I caused our calves at weaning’

Perhaps we should sell a T-shirt that says, “I’m sorry for the stress I caused our calves at weaning.”

Freelance Writer

Melissa Beck is a freelance writer based in Oklahoma.

Sometimes we make bad choices that create additional stress for calves. “I’m sorry I pulled the calves off the cows, loaded them on a trailer and weaned them at the sale barn” may be too wordy for a T-shirt, but it may help make a point. Here are some ways we can lessen the negative impact of weaning and end up with healthier calves.

Nutrition

Calves in new environments have to figure out feed and water sources in addition to a new social structure. Ryon Walker, a livestock consultant with the Noble Foundation, suggests weaning them on a diet similar to what they were eating.

“In the Southeast, our primary supplement is bermudagrass hay, and calves wean very well on it,” Walker says. “One of the downfalls with bermudagrass hay is: Too often, it does not meet the nutrient requirements for a growing calf, so typically you have to supplement the deficient nutrient.

If you supplement or feed different processed forage at weaning, adapt the calves to it for about a week prior to weaning while they are still with their dams. That way calves will be more familiar with it at weaning.”

Research at the University of Arkansas showed calves that hadn’t been exposed to creep feed prior to weaning gained less weight during a 42-day preconditioning program than calves offered milled creep feed pre-weaning.

Early in the weaning period, calves creep fed pre-weaning seemed to go on feed easier, possibly showing they were more familiar with milled feeds.

Paul Beck, a ruminant nutritionist at the University of Arkansas, says, “Clean water, quality hay and a balanced supplement are essential in keeping calves growing. But calves must be eating the feed and drinking water to pull this off.

Hay should be dust- and mold-free, and preferably a grass calves are used to eating. Good-quality hay with high levels of crude protein and low fiber content is more digestible and nutritious.”

In the instance where calves haven’t been exposed to feed, Beck says a clean, high-quality hay can get them coming to the feedbunk. In the Southeast, a good-quality bermudagrass will work, but in the Western states calves are not familiar with that grass, so a prairie hay would be a better choice.

Cottonseed hulls are a palatable roughage source for fresh calves and are often added to weaning supplements. With the low feeding intake, Beck often advises producers to increase the protein and potassium content of weaning rations as well.

Brian Freking, a livestock specialist at Oklahoma State University, recommends more frequent feedings during weaning. “I like to feed my calves more frequently (three times per day) during the first week of weaning, as getting cattle to eat is always beneficial on overall health, which reduces stress on everyone involved.”

In addition to familiarizing calves to supplements, introducing mineral to calves while on the dam may also help establish a responsive immune system.

Research from the University of Florida shows calves supplied a limited creep feed – supplying the required minerals in a palatable and available form – had greater mineral status and better immune response to stress and vaccination than calves without additional mineral supplementation.

Environment

Fenceline weaning can be done in a pasture with good fences, even good four-wire, high-tensile electric fences (assuming calves are familiar with them).

The advantage of fenceline weaning (as opposed to in a drylot) is: Calves are allowed to wean while grazing the forages they’re already accustomed to. Research shows grazing is a soothing activity and a way for calves to cope with stress.

Calves in this system spend more time in their natural activities of grazing and loafing than they do pacing and bawling. Fenceline weaning prevents calves from nursing while allowing limited social contact with the dams. Research also shows that fenceline-weaned calves had lower incidents of illness compared to calves completely parted from their dams.

Brian Triplett, an extension agent in Red River County, Texas, says, “Calves and cows will both walk the fence and bawl early in the weaning process. If they can see and smell each other across a well-built fence, it will help to reduce stress on both the cow and the calf.”

Frecking says, “Acclimate cattle to working facilities prior to the actual process of weaning.” He also recommends producers use short periods of separation to train calves to be away from the dam. “At 2 months old, for 24 hours, separate calves from dams, then turn back together and do this again when giving pre-weaning shots.”

Weather is also an important variable to consider when planning to wean. Choose to wean when the weather is more conducive to good health. Temperature extremes are hard on calves, but wide variations in temperatures are even worse.

Health

Vaccination to clostridial diseases and bovine respiratory disease is important. There are two bovine respiratory disease vaccination protocols commonly recommended to producers. Vaccinating a couple of weeks before weaning can decrease stress at weaning.

This protocol should be a killed vaccine before weaning and modified-live vaccine shortly after weaning. A second option is two modified-live shots, one at weaning and a second booster vaccination two to three weeks later.

Vaccinating calves before weaning allows their immune systems to optimize before the onset of the stress of weaning. Although a herd health program helps to reduce the incidence of illness in calves, it’s best to vaccinate them prior to weaning while they’re still on the dams to get the best treatment response.

“Vaccinating the calves a few weeks prior to weaning or a few weeks after weaning will also reduce the stress level on weaning day,” Triplett says.

Heavy parasite burdens can weaken calves’ response to vaccination and stress events. Deworming is an essential element to help calves respond to their new environment.

When processing calves and sorting them from dams at weaning, it’s important to reduce the stress of handling them. As Walker says, “This is not rocket science; however, if you handle your cattle and calves at weaning in a low-stress environment, your calves tend to be less stressed in different environments and go on feed much quicker after the weaning process.”

By implementing best practices for reducing stress at weaning, such as fenceline weaning, supplementation, deworming and vaccinating, we can afford all the trendy T-shirts – because our checks will be bigger when we market our calves.

PHOTO: Producers can avoid causing stress to their calves at weaning by implementing good practices such as fenceline weaning, supplementation, deworming and vaccinating. Staff photo.