If conditions warrant, now might be the time to start thinking about weaning for spring calving herds. But weaning strategies are not one plan fits all, and what your neighbor does might not be the best decision for your herd.
The average suggested weaning age is 205 days. Four beef cattle extension specialists discuss the factors to consider if early weaning is the best option.
“Early weaning can be one of the most effective management strategies from both a grass/forage and cow nutrition standpoint,” says Jason Warner, Kansas State University extension cow-calf specialist.
According to Ron Lemenager, Purdue University beef specialist, the earliest recommended age for weaning a beef calf is between 60 days to 80 days, with 70 days being a common benchmark to ensure calves have a functioning rumen.
“When you wean at less than 70 days of age, the chances of having that calf turn out to be a little, potbellied orphan-looking calf goes up,” he says.
Warner adds weaning 60-to-90-day-old calves requires good, tight facilities to keep them in and feed bunks and watering troughs that the calves can reach.
Lemenager explains the decision to early wean is based on two things:
- Feed resources: the kind of quality and quantity of feed.
- Body condition of the cows.
John Hall, University of Idaho extension beef specialist, says there are two age ranges for early weaning. Very early weaning is weaning calves at 90 days prior to the breeding season. Producers can use this strategy to try and induce cycles in thin cows. He says calves weaned this early will require a unique management plan.
He describes early weaning as when the calf is between 150 days to 180 days of age.
“The nice thing about that 5-month-old calf is it’s only getting about 30% of its nutrition from the dam,” Hall explains. “So, making the switch when the calf is already used to eating a lot of forage is ideal.”
Megan Van Emon, Montana State University extension beef cattle specialist, encourages producers to plan to make sure the weaning process — no matter how the age of calf — goes smoothly.
“The earlier you can make the decision, the better,” she says. “Not only for the producer, but also for those calves to be prepared.”
Four Factors to Consider
The specialists share these points to aid in your early weaning decision:
Pasture and Forage Conditions
Drought is the primary trigger for early weaning. All four specialists encourage producers to assess pasture conditions, rainfall patterns and forage availability. If pastures are short and producers are concerned about overgrazing, then early weaning should be considered.“In times of reduced forage availability — primarily drought — early weaning should be considered as a method to preserve the forage base by removing the forage demand from the calf and also reducing forage intake by the cow,” Warner says.
Van Emon explains the “take half, leave half” grazing principle becomes difficult when grass is only 3" to 4" tall, emphasizing the need to leave enough root reserves for future grazing.
Most of the research data suggests that for every two to two-and-a-half days that a calf is weaned, there is one more day of available forage for grazing for the dry cow.
“We can conservatively save or extend our forage resources by a third,” Lemenager explains. “Cow forage intake goes down and calf consumption of forage is eliminated in that grazing environment.”
Cow Body Condition
Hall says if cows are at a body condition score (BCS) 4 or lower by mid-summer, they’re in nutritional trouble and it’s likely their calves are not doing well in terms of growth rate either.Early weaning removes the lactation demands, which will allow the cow to start regaining condition before winter. Lemenager also suggests early weaning can help reduce winter supplementation needs.
Lemenager and his family also have a cow herd in Indiana. They typically wean at about 6 months of age.
“That gives me an extra month of cows being able to pick up some body condition before the winter,” he explains.
Van Emon says research predicts for every two weeks earlier you wean, a cow will gain about a tenth of a body condition score.
- Feed Resources Available for Newly Weaned Calves
It is important to have high-quality feed available for early weaned calves, as they require better nutrition for continued growth. Hall recommends producers work with a nutrition consultant or other extension specialist to create a nutrition plan for the newly weaned calves. - Facilities and Labor
Early weaning requires appropriate facilities with secure fencing and can require additional labor. Van Emon encourages producers to consider if they have the resources available to manage early weaning effectively.
Hall reminds producers the primary goal of early weaning is to maintain or improve cow condition and stretch limited forage supplies while supporting calf growth.
By carefully evaluating the factors suggested by the extension specialists and implementing proper management strategies, you can make early weaning a successful part of your operation when conditions warrant the strategy.
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