Calf Weaning

A Closer Look at Delayed Cow-Calf Separation

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:50:51 GMT

Delayed cow-calf separation is a topic that usually gets people talking — whether they are focusing on animal welfare, public perception or personal experience. However, we rarely see the conversation anchored in controlled data. New, yet-to-be-published research from Dr. Adam Beard and his team at Cornell University is changing that, providing a clearer picture of how short-term contact and transition milk feeding affect a calf’s early life.

The study focused on the perinatal period: the final two months of pregnancy through the first two months after birth. This is a time of developmental plasticity, meaning management decisions can have a long-term impact on growth and future performance.

“We were interested in the physiologic impacts of transition milk feeding, as well as the societal components of cow-calf contact — if it’s something that’s feasible, could be implemented and what challenges might there be,” Beard explains.

While we know how much prenatal care matters, the big question remains: Does staying with the mother after birth continue to have a meaningful biological effect?

To find out, researchers set up a controlled study where delayed separation was defined as unrestricted contact for the first five days of life. Calves in this group stayed with their dams, had full social contact and nursed freely.

They were compared to two other groups that were separated immediately: one fed the dam’s transition milk and another fed bulk tank whole milk. To ensure the results weren’t skewed by a poor start, every calf in the study met strict criteria for high-quality colostrum intake and birth vigor.

Does Delayed Separation Affect Passive Transfer of Immunity?

A common worry is that delayed separation might interfere with a calf’s immune system. In this study, it didn’t. All calves received high-quality colostrum (>22% Brix) shortly after birth, and their antibody levels (serum IgG) were the same regardless of whether they stayed with the cow or were moved. This reinforces that the timing and quality of colostrum are the real drivers of immunity, not the housing method.

Impact of Nursing on Calf Growth and Health Risks

For those first five days, nursing calves did appear heavier. However, the researchers found this difference disappeared quickly after separation. The early weight gain was likely just gut fill — a result of nursing frequency — rather than actual tissue growth. By day seven, after all calves had transitioned to a standard feeding schedule, the weights converged and no lasting differences remained.

Health risks are often seen as a major barrier to keeping cows and calves together. However, this data showed no link between delayed separation and a higher frequency of fever or diarrhea.

“Some people might suspect that this would make calves more vulnerable to health challenges,” Beard says. “We just don’t see that here.”

While scours occurred across all groups, the patterns were consistent with what is typically seen in newborns, regardless of the feeding system.

The team followed replacement heifers through nine weeks of age. Across the board, there were no differences in:

Average daily gain
Final body weight
Hip and withers height
Solid feed intake before weaning

How Suckling Affects Cow Milk Yield and Udder Health

While the calves were nursing, there was a predictable drop in salable milk yield. However, production rebounded within 24 hours of separation, and there were no lasting penalties in early lactation.

Interestingly, preliminary findings suggested cows being suckled had higher cure rates for intramammary infections, though that analysis is ongoing. Notably, the study reported no calf injuries or human safety incidents during the contact period.

Is Short-Term Cow-Calf Contact Practical?

“We don’t have any results that are remarkably different between the transition milk, whole milk or transition milk with cow-calf contact, but the outcomes also weren’t any worse for having the calf in the environment with the cow,” Beard says.

This research doesn’t suggest that delayed cow-calf separation is a performance-enhancing tool. When calves already receive great colostrum and consistent management, the growth and health outcomes are largely neutral.

The real takeaway is short-term contact can be implemented without negative effects under controlled conditions. Proving this practice isn’t inherently risky will allow the industry to move past anecdotal fears and look deeper into the biology of transition milk and long-term development.

Eight Components of a Strong Preconditioning Program

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:34:20 GMT

Many spring-calving producers are thinking about weaning and marketing this year’s calf crop.

“In preparation for weaning and marketing, many producers do some level of preconditioning to add value and prepare calves for the next stages of life,” says Chris Clark, Iowa State University Extension and outreach beef specialist.

In a recent press release Clark describes preconditioning strategies and explains why it is valuable.

He says there is not a solid, consistent definition for preconditioning and the meaning of the term can differ person to person, regionally and among various programs.

Clark says this definition summarizes his perspective on the meaning and importance of preconditioning: “Preconditioning is a set of practices and procedures applied to prepare cattle for the next phase of production. Weaning and marketing involve many potential stressors that can negatively affect beef calves: separation from dam, new environment, diet change and new social dynamics, just to name a few. The idea of preconditioning is to prepare cattle, minimize those stressors, support health and performance, and ultimately, help cattle reach their genetic potential.”

He adds specific precondition practices often include castration, dehorning, vaccination, adaptation to new feeds and bunk breaking.

Although most preconditioning practices are associated with weaning, some of these things can actually be done well ahead of time, even in the neonatal period of a calf’s life.

“Well-preconditioned cattle are the culmination of a holistic management program that starts when calves are born and arguably even while they are in utero,” he says.

Clark shares these eight components of a strong preconditioning program:

Castration and dehorning procedures should be done as early as possible with appropriate anesthesia and analgesia to minimize pain and distress.
“Castration and dehorning surgeries should generally be performed within the first two to three months of life,” he says. “Dehorning should be done through genetic selection or through disbudding calves before the horns become well established.”
If these procedures have not yet been done, talk to your veterinarian about the best timing and technique. Open wounds can be a problem in the summer because of fly pressure, so it is worth some thought and discussion about how to best proceed at this time of year.
Vaccination to establish immunity prior to the stress of weaning and marketing.
Stress associated with weaning and marketing can cause immunosuppression, making animals more susceptible to respiratory disease and other infections. Preweaning vaccines help ensure protective antibodies are on board at weaning, which can help prevent and reduce the severity of disease.
“Work closely with your veterinarian to determine the products and vaccine schedules that make the most sense for your operation,” he says.
Deworming to reduce internal and external parasite load can help promote animal health and performance.
Cattle commonly consume infective nematode larvae while grazing, so strategic deworming as they are coming off of pasture into drylot or feedyard settings can make a lot of sense.
Implanting with growth-promoting hormone implants is very much an optional part of a preconditioning program.
Implants improve performance and feed efficiency and can improve profitability when cattle are retained long enough to take advantage of these improvements.
“In a strong cattle market where each pound of gain has great value, implanting may be worth considering,” he says. “Keep in mind the new FDA guidance and emphasis on not reimplanting within a phase of production unless the implant product is specifically labeled for reimplantation.”
He explains with this recent development, some buyers might prefer cattle that have not been implanted, so it may be worth thinking through the value of enhanced performance versus buyer preferences and demand at market.
Adapt cattle to feed like what will be fed after weaning.
“Creep feeding consistently increases weaning weight but may or may not be profitable depending on the cost versus value of gain,” Clark explains. “In the current market with significant value for every pound of gain, creep feeding may be worth considering.”
Even when not obviously profitable, creep feeding or some kind of supplementation can help calves adapt to new feeds and feeding systems. This should support a smoother transition throughout weaning.
Postweaning feeding programs should be well-balanced to support health and growth but modest enough to prevent foot and rumen issues and over-conditioning of animals.
“Buyers generally like cattle to be relatively ‘green,’ meaning they prefer to buy cattle that are not overly fat,” he adds.
Weaning is considered by some to be an integral part of the preconditioning process.
In fact, in some sponsored preconditioning programs, cattle are not truly preconditioned if not weaned for 45 to 60 days. Weaning allows producers to start cattle on feed, adapt them to the next phase of production, and treat any illnesses that might occur.
Consider low-stress weaning strategies such as two-step weaning, fence-line weaning, pasture weaning, etc., and think ahead about what might work for you. Weaned cattle should be past some of the most stressful and high-risk times and ready to enter the next phase of production.
Strive for excellence in the basics of animal husbandry.
Shelter, shade, bedding, water, feed and low-stress handling are all components of good animal care, and the most well-preconditioned animals are those that have been well taken care of from conception to marketing.
Daily care and record keeping are key components of preconditioning.
Create a plan for performing and keeping records of daily care, and develop a record-keeping system for treatment and feed records.
“Plan to check cattle daily throughout the weaning phase to look for signs of illness, develop a working relationship with a veterinarian and establish a treatment plan in case of illness,” Clark says.
Review recommended biosecurity protocols and implement as appropriate to protect the health of your calf crop. Prepare records that can be shared with buyers so they understand how cattle have been cared for, what products have been administered and what procedures have been done.

Clark summarizes preconditioning does several things. First, it enhances animal health, well-being and performance, and increases the odds that cattle will perform to their genetic potential. Additionally, preconditioning minimizes risk.

“In the current record-breaking cattle market, cattle are more valuable than ever, and with great value comes great risk,” he says. “Every illness, every mortality, every bout of weight loss and shrink hurts that much more than it would in a weaker market.”

Preconditioning can help manage that risk and improve the likelihood of success for producers in all phases of production. Consider preconditioning to optimize cattle health and performance and promote the success of buyers of your cattle.

Check out other calf weaning stories.

Three Strategies to Prevent Weaning Health Woes

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:42:13 GMT

Careful planning and management are critical to maintaining animal health at weaning. Before starting the weaning process, the first step is making sure the calf’s immune system is ready for the stress of being separated from its mother.

“I encourage producers to work with their practicing veterinarian and review their herd health protocols for weaning in advance of when they start the weaning process,” says Jason Warner, Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist. “Have an annual conversation and a plan put together that can be adjusted each year.”

Megan Van Emon, Montana State University Extension beef cattle specialist, says the goal should be to strengthen the calves’ immune systems before they face the challenges of separation from their mothers, potential transportation and new environments.

“Proper vaccination can help reduce health risks during this critical transition period,” she summarizes.

Warner, Van Emon along with John Hall, University of Idaho Extension beef specialist, and Ron Lemenager, Purdue University beef specialist, share these three strategies to help keep calves healthy at weaning.

1. Develop a Vaccination Strategy to Boost Immunity.

“One of the first things I suggest is a good vaccination program that a producer works on with their veterinarian,” Hall says. “The earlier you can reach out to your vet, the better; just to get those vaccines lined up. Make sure they have them in stock and ready to go for you.”

It takes 10 to 14 days for a calf’s immune system to sufficiently respond to a vaccine, so immunizations should ideally occur two or three weeks ahead of weaning. The specialists explain vaccinating calves for the first time at weaning is too late, as it doesn’t allow sufficient time for the vaccine to work before introducing calves to increased exposure risk.

Lemenager recommends a minimum of two vaccination rounds for weaned calves — one before weaning and then the second at weaning.

Hall reminds producers to review the vaccination protocols and be sure to booster if needed.

2. Don’t Combine Stressful Procedures.

Lemenager stresses the importance of not combining weaning with other stressful events such as castration and dehorning. He suggests castration and dehorning at branding or earlier, if possible, to reduce stress.

3. Observe for Illness Indicators.

“It’s that seven to 10 days to two weeks after weaning that we’re going to start seeing any kind of health issues,” Lemenager says,

It is important to monitor and watch for early signs of health issues, including:

Water and feed intake
Lemenager says dehydration is a common issue that can cascade into other health issues.
Activity level
Eye brightness
Ear position
Hall says to watch for droopy ears and depressed-looking calves.
Nasal discharge
Breathing quality and speed
Coughing
Manure
Hall says to watch for manure inconsistency as well as for signs of coccidiosis (blood-tinged)
Overall energy and movement

Lemenager explains if you have a weaned calf with any of the indicators it is a good strategy to take its temperature and then work with your veterinarian or herd health provider to develop a strategy and come up with the first line of defense before a potential outbreak occurs.

Get BQA Certified

Hall reminds producers about the importance of the Beef Quality Assurance program and encourages all producers and their employees to get BQA trained and certified .

The BQA program’s mission is to guide producers toward continuous improvement using science-based production practices that assure cattle well-being, beef quality and safety. The program provides cattle producers with the resources to enable continuous improvement with the mindset of doing things the right way at the right time.

“When vaccinating or working cattle, be sure to follow BQA procedures,” Hall says. “Including proper injection sites, never mixing two different vaccines in the same syringe, using the proper sized needle and changing them often, keeping vaccines in a cooler and out of the sun (proper vaccine handling).”

Check out the BQA Field Guide for a quick reference to information.

Implementing the strategies suggested by the Extension specialists can significantly improve calf health during the weaning transition, resulting in better performance and increased profitability.

Your Next Read: Key Nutrition Strategies for a Successful Weaning

Risk Factors Associated with BRD in Preweaned Calves

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:55:33 GMT

A well-managed Midwest cow-calf ranch has a problem with respiratory disease in its preweaned calves. They retain ownership, artificially inseminate and manage everything well according to Kansas State Veterinarian Brad White.

During a recent “ Bovine Science with BCI ” podcast, Kansas State University veterinarians Brad White and Bob Larson explore potential causes for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in preweaned calves and how to mitigate the problem. White says discussing how to deal with preweaning BRD with producers can be frustrating because clear answers are not always possible.

Larson explains typical BRD preweaning symptoms for a spring calving herd will show up midsummer when the calves are about 4 months of age or a little older and still nursing on pasture.

“We could see 15% to 20% of the calves display symptoms,” Larson explains. “What we’re looking for is kind of typical, depressed, their heads down, maybe rapid breathing, those types of things. They’re not really being aggressive with their suckling or eating or anything.”

Larson reminds producers this fits the same description of respiratory disease in older calves. He says, likewise, some death loss can occur.

“Probably the most common what I see is up to 20% of the calves are affected, and from among those that we treat, you get just a few deaths,” he says.

Research Findings

Larson explains a recent K-State research project regarding BRD. Research surveys of more than 400 herds revealed several key insights. Several potential risk factors were identified that could contribute to preweaning respiratory disease:

Artificial Insemination (AI) and Synchronization. Gathering cattle for AI can increase disease transmission and changing pasture dynamics and increasing close contact among calves.
Management Practices. If cattle are managed using intensive grazing strategies or creep feeding these practices that alter normal grazing patterns and increase calf interaction and thus disease transmission.
External Exposure. Grafting calves into a herd, grazing stocker cattle in the same pasture or any introduction of outside animals can be a potential risk factor.
Immunological Factors. Declining maternal antibody protection at 3 to 5 months of age. Front-loaded calving seasons creating a cohort of calves vulnerable at the same time.

Larson stresses this is speculation because many herds do those types of practices and do not have a summer pneumonia problem.

“So, it’s not a smoking gun that if you do these practices, you’ll run into summer pneumonia,” he summarizes. “It’s just that we saw a little bit higher risk in those herds that did some of these, again, kind of changing the normal grazing distribution and pattern that calves interacted.”

Larson and White share several prevention and management strategies:

Maintain strict biosecurity
Isolate grafted or new calves
Avoid commingling different cattle groups
Ensure good nutrition and sanitation
Consider vaccination protocols carefully

During the podcast , the researchers highlight the complexity of preweaning BRD, noting that no single factor guarantees prevention. Each herd requires a tailored approach and working closely with a veterinarian to understand specific risk factors.

The primary takeaway is that while preweaning BRD is frustrating and not entirely predictable, producers can mitigate risks through careful management, biosecurity and proactive health strategies. Good, foundational practices such as maintaining cow health, providing a sanitary environment and monitoring the herd remain the most critical components of prevention.

Producers experiencing recurring issues should reassess their management practices, vaccination protocols and herd dynamics to reduce the likelihood of preweaning respiratory disease outbreaks.

Key Nutrition Strategies for a Successful Weaning

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:36:47 GMT

Keys to a successful weaning are reducing stress, supporting the calves’ immune systems and maintaining good nutrition.

Megan Van Emon, Montana State University Extension beef cattle specialist, shares these four nutritional strategies that are key to success at weaning:

Help calves learn to eat from bunks and drink from troughs before weaning if possible.
Provide high-quality feed immediately after weaning.
Ensure fresh, clean water is available.
Use palatable feeds to encourage calves to eat.

Jason Warner, Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist, says if producers are weaning calves and placing them in pens and are planning to deliver them a mixed ration, they need to remember that feed intake will be low initially but will gradually increase as calves transition and the initial stress due to the separation event subsides.

“When calves are first weaned, providing them with plenty of access to palatable, fresh, long-stem grass hay is always a good approach and gradually introducing them to a weaning ration over a period of several days,” Warner explains. “Feedstuffs low in starch and high in digestible fiber such as distillers grains or gluten feed are good choices to include in weaning and receiving diets.”

John Hall, University of Idaho Extension beef specialist, suggests a weaning diet of: 60% to 65% forage, 14% to 16% crude protein and around 65% total digestible nutrients (TDN)

“I prefer byproducts such as distillers grains, corn gluten feed, soy hulls — those kind of highly digestible fiber products — which don’t cause us big problems with acidosis and problems with rumen function that feeding straight corn or milo or something like that would cause,” Hall explains.

He emphasizes using high-quality forages and by-products to support rumen function and avoid digestive issues in newly weaned calves.

Hall also stresses a good mineral program is crucial for supporting immune function during the stressful weaning period. He encourages producers to focus on trace minerals — copper, selenium, zinc, manganese — and to use chelated or hydroxy mineral forms.

Hall shares these suggestions for producers to consider:

Work with a nutrition expert or consultant when formulating rations.
Use highly digestible fiber products.
Avoid straight corn to prevent rumen issues.
Supplement calves on pasture if possible.
Introduce new feed sources gradually.

If early weaning, Hall says: “For these early weaned calves, diets that are fairly high in forages are very important in terms of rumen function and calf health, and then enough energy.”

Ron Lemenager, Purdue University beef specialist, says a key principle is maintaining consistency in the ration. He suggests using the same creep feed during preweaning as the initial weaning ration to reduce stress and digestive disruption. This approach helps calves transition smoothly from milk to solid feed.

“I like to include an ionophore in my creep and weaning rations to help stabilize rumen fermentation,” he says. “When using byproducts like distillers grains or corn gluten feed, make sure to check the calcium to phosphorus ratio of the feed to prevent urinary calculi.”

Lemenager explains that the time around weaning is a critical “marbling window” between weaning and 9 to 10 months of age when strategic starch feeding can enhance meat quality. For replacement heifers, he recommends maintaining a high-fiber diet, while steers and market heifers should transition to more corn-based rations to develop intramuscular fat.

He stresses a weaning nutrition program isn’t one size fits all. Producers should consider individual herd characteristics, calf age and intended market endpoint when designing weaning nutrition strategies.

“The overarching goal is to support calf health, minimize stress, maintain growth performance and potentially improve future meat quality through strategic nutritional management during the critical weaning period,” Lemenager summarizes.

Your Next Read: Step-by-Step Weaning: How to Choose the Best Method

Step-by-Step Weaning: How to Choose the Best Method

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:01:12 GMT

Weaning is a stressful time — stressful on calves, cows and producers.

Weaning can have a major impact on a calf’s short and long-term health, growth performance and economic returns. Minimizing weaning stress should improve calf health and weight gain.

“Weaning can be approached many different ways depending on what facilities are available,” says Jason Warner, Kansas State University extension cow-calf specialist.

Four beef cattle extension specialists chime in on weaning methods, including the pros and cons of each option.

“Everybody’s got an opinion,” says Ron Lemenager, Purdue University beef specialist. “I don’t think it’s a one option fits all.”

He also encourages producers to minimize any additional stressful events at weaning time, such as castration, dehorning, vaccinating, physical separation or transportation.

“While we can’t eliminate all stresses, castration, dehorning and the first round of vaccinations can be done preweaning in many situations to reduce weaning stress,” he says.

The three weaning methods discussed by the specialists include:

Fence-line weaning.
Calves and cows are separated by a fence but can still see each other. Fence-line weaning is considered a low-stress method because calves can still see, hear and smell their mothers, which helps reduce the psychological stress of separation. This method helps calves settle down faster.

“Fence-line weaning is ideal if the facilities are available,” says Megan Van Emon, Montana State University extension beef cattle specialist.

John Hall, University of Idaho extension beef specialist, agrees.

“When you’re set up for it and used to it, my preference is fence-line weaning. We’ve gotten along very well with it over the years at the research station here. Those calves do settle down more easily,” Hall says.

Warner says fence-line weaning requires good fences and the ability to gather and separate cows and calves that rejoin each other.

“Many producers often remove calves from their dams, leave the cows on pasture and then place the calves in pens or feeding traps,” Warner says. “If producers do the opposite — take cows to the pens and leave the calves on pasture — then it is generally best to keep a few older, trainer cows with the calves during the initial weaning period to help reduce stress. Nutrition is key during this time period regardless of the approach used.”

There are pros and cons of putting the cows or the calves in the lot. If the lot is dusty, it might be a better option for the cows, due to health concerns. Ideally, it would be a grass lot, not dirt.

“Putting the calves in a lot gives an opportunity to really keep a close eye on those calves,” Lemenager says. “I can get them into the handling facility if I need to — a lot easier than if I’ve got to move them off of pasture.”
Nursing prevention tools.
Devices, such as nose flaps or clips, can be placed in a calf’s nose to prevent nursing while allowing them to remain with their mothers. This is also considered a low-stress weaning option.

Lemenager explains his apprehension with the nose flaps are the lesions they create.

Both Hall and Van Emon say nose flaps help reduce anxiety at separation but require additional labor to put in and remove.

“There’s been some research done on nose flaps that seems to have positive benefits if you’re trying to early wean,” Hall explains. “But it is a whole different level of stress for the rancher and cattle to get those animals up, put the nose flaps in, and then take them out at weaning time.”
Abrupt weaning.
This method is the complete separation of calves from cows. This can be separating and taking straight to the sale barn or it can be to a completely different location owned by the rancher.

“Here in the West, we tend to wean straight onto a truck and into the sale barn,” Van Emon says.

This method can be the most stressful on the calf if they go straight from a pasture setting with mom to a new location they do not know and are subjected to a new concentrate diet and water source.

Lemenager’s preference is abrupt weaning with his personal cow herd. He moves the calves nine miles away from their moms to be weaned and backgrounded. He says with this method, the cows and calves cannot hear each other and the bawling is done in three days.

He gets the calves used to eating with a pre-weaning creep feed and drinking out of a water tank. At weaning, the creep feeder moves with the calves in a grassy lot with shade and easy access to both a water tank and an automatic waterer along the perimeter fence.

Hall says asking calves to transition from pasture to a dry lot setting with a feed bunk and from creek water to a water tank can be stressful and hard to understand. If possible, allow the calves access and train them to feed bunks and water tanks before weaning.

He encourages producers to choose the weaning method they are most comfortable with, that works for their specific ranch and fits their facilities, labor and management style.

“Don’t try a new method during a challenging weaning year,” he summarizes. “The goal is to reduce stress as much as possible for both cows and calves.”

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When Is the Best Time to Wean?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 20:05:10 GMT

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.

Your Next Read: Step-by-Step Weaning: How to Choose the Best Method