Weaning is part of cow-calf production, and it can occur at different times for numerous reasons. There is varying terminology associated with weaning depending on age of the calf, the weaning location (ranch of origin or trailer) and dictionary versus industry definitions.
From a dictionary standpoint, weaning is defined as the calf being removed from milk and direct contact with its dam. However, this is not how the industry would typically define weaning. From an industry perspective, a weaned calf would be described as a calf that has been separated from its dam for at least 45 to 60 days.
Weaning can be categorized into three groups based on calf age and cow reproductive implications:
- Traditional weaning at 6 to 8 months of age
- Weaning one to two months earlier than normal to save or improve cow body condition score (BCS)
- Early weaning for immediate reproductive benefits (calves would be 45 to 60 days old)
Most of the time, calves are weaned at 6 to 8 months of age, assuming cows are at or above a body condition score of 4 and forage resources are adequate. If cows are in excellent condition, weaning can be delayed, allowing calves to get even older before weaning. However, calves should always be weaned at least 60 days before the next calf is born to allow time for colostrum production.
Weaning calves one to two months earlier than normal is a cost-effective strategy to save body condition on cows or allow thinner cows more time to regain body condition before their next calf. This strategy is good to use to prevent cows from going below a body condition score of 4 or to save some extra body condition when dealing with drought.
In some situations, cow body condition score at calving may be too low for cows to come back into heat and get bred on time. Assuming a gestation length of 280 to 285 days, cows must get bred within 80 to 85 days of calving to maintain a 12-month calving interval. In these cases, early weaning calves at 45 to 60 days of age can be used to help get cows to resume estrous and get bred. Removing calves at this age will generally get cows to come into heat within a few weeks.
