On suckler farms where calves are born from January to early April, most herd owners will look to start weaning calves over the next month, beginning with the oldest and strongest animals.

Weaning is a crucial management period, with the cow and calf both coming under stress as the maternal bond is broken.

Under good herd management, the stress levels will be lower and cattle are quick to settle, with no knock-on effects to the calf’s health or performance.

But equally, under poor management, the weaning process can trigger a pneumonia outbreak that is costly to remedy. In the worst-case scenario, there is the occasional calf lost.

Do not let all your hard work in bringing calves through to the autumn be undone by cutting corners, bad decisions or poor management at weaning time.

Planning

Planning ahead can help to reduce the problems that usually occur at weaning time. Think back to previous years. What have been the main problems and when did they occur?

This is important, as it can identify the triggers to such problems. For example, were calves not wormed in good time before weaning, ridding animals of lungworm?

Or was pneumonia caused by weaning and housing on the same day?

Or did problems come about from overstocking animals in sheds with poor ventilation?

The good thing is that these factors can be managed and altered by the herd owner, provided there is the willpower to do so.

Top tips for weaning

Do not wean all calves on one day

Weaning all calves on the same day is a disaster waiting to happen if the herd is hit with a disease outbreak.

Weaning in two or three phases reduces the risk, as there will be smaller numbers in each group. If there is a problem with pneumonia, it will be confined to one group. The remaining calves should still be healthy.

Do not wean and house on the same day

Do not wean and house calves on the same day. The stress from weaning combined with changes in diet and environment is hard on calves.

It is better to delay weaning for at least one week post-housing to allow calves settle in the shed first.

If housing facilities do not allow this, then think about weaning and letting the calves stay outside for a few days while the cow is housed.

Do not treat for worms when weaning

Do not worm, fluke or vaccinate calves on the same day they are being weaned. Gather calves at least three weeks before the planned weaning or housing date and treat for internal parasites. This will get rid of lungworms before weaning, reducing the risk of respiratory issues when taken off the cow.

Have calves eating creep

Having calves eating meal before weaning will ease the transition off the cow and reduce the impact on weight gain during this period.

Avoid mixing calves from different social groups

If you are weaning in the shed, avoid mixing calves that grazed in different social groups if possible. Also, group calves as evenly as possible in terms of size and weight. This will cut down on bullying and stress.

Five methods for weaning calves

There are multiple ways to wean calves and no single method that is better than others. Which option works best depends on the farm setup.

Outlined are five methods for weaning calves.

1 Gradually removing the cows from the grazing group

This option works for weaning outside in fresh air. But it relies heavily on having cows grazing close to the yard or a handling pen on an outfarm.

Basically, it works on the principle of slipping a few cows away from the grazing group every three to four days and housing them.

As cows are removed, their calves remain at grass in the same field with creep feeders present. As there are still other cows present, calves remain relatively settled throughout the process.

Cows removed from the group can remain housed, or be turned out to rough grazing if ground conditions and grass supplies allow.

2 Using creep grazing to restrict suckling

Another way to wean stronger calves outdoors is to use forward creep grazing. Once calves get use to creeping forward, they can be locked off cows to restrict suckling.

However, for this to work, the farm needs to be well fenced. Without secure fencing, cows and calves will break the resolve of even the most patient of farmers.

Start by setting up a temporary electric wire, or creep gate, in one corner of a field to entice calves to graze in front of cows.

Once calves are used to creeping forward, the next step is to lure calves into an adjacent paddock where they can be locked off from the cow during the day. Let the calves back to the cow in the evening.

Cows should have their grazing intake restricted to reduce milk production once calves start creeping forward.

If paddocks do not have stock-proof fencing in place, add a second or third strand of electric wire to prevent access to cows. Ideally, use mains electricity to provide power.

3 Using nose flaps

QuietWean nose flaps have become much more popular in recent years. Again, they allow calves to be weaned outdoors.

The flap is basically an anti-sucking device and is re-useable. Once inserted into the calf’s nose, it prevents the calf from suckling the cow. However, the calf can still graze and eat concentrates unrestricted.

Flaps should be left in the calf’s nose for at least one week, but ideally two weeks. During this time, the cow starts to dry off.

Keep cows on low grass covers to prevent issues with mastitis. As calves are weaned, but remain with the cow, there is much less stress involved.

4 Weaning in the shed

If calves are normally weaned indoors, make sure to leave at least one week after housing to allow calves settle in the shed and adjust to the silage diet.

Weaning in the shed offers greater control over weaning outdoors, particularly in the case of getting the cow dried off properly. It is easier on time and involves less work.

The shed also allows a gradual weaning approach, reducing stress levels on calves. Lock calves in creep areas or separate them by penning cows and calves side by side.

This keeps animals settled through the weaning period. Once fully weaned, calves can be moved away from cows.

5 Abrupt weaning

The final option is probably one of the more common practices on suckler farms. Abrupt weaning is the removal of all calves off the cow on one day.

While it may initially be faster and less labour intensive, it is the most stressful on calves. More often than not, it is this method that is most commonly associated with respiratory problems post-weaning.

So the initial time saved on the day of weaning is lost by the time, and cost, spent treating sick calves in the weeks after weaning.

If you are planning to wean calves with this method, at the very least, wait until calves are settled in the shed first before removing them off the cow.

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