Consider Early Weaning as a Cost-Control Strategy

By Sarah Young Livestock Editor
Thursday, September 4, 2008 8:06 AM CDT

Producers may want to take a look at early weaning as a cost control strategy in this era of high input costs as they plan to manage pasture and stored feed resources.

Weaning calves early can reduce the amount of feed needed by cows, ultimately reducing feed costs.

“Early weaning is a cost-control strategy that beef producers might consider,” said K.C. Olson, who is a cow/calf nutrition specialist with Kansas State Research and Extension.

The decision to wean early should be made and implemented before the situation gets grim and it has to be done.

Early weaned calves are no more prone to health, nutritional, or environmental problems than calves in conventional weaning programs, Olson said. And, there are well-established benefits in terms of calf performance, forage conservation and reduced nutrient requirements for cows, says Olson.

Weaning calves earlier than usual - at 30 to 150 days of age, rather than the more typical 240 days - takes them off of pastures, which both reduces the stocking rate and halts lactation in cows. In turn, halting lactation earlier trims a cow’s nutritional needs and, therefore, its forage needs earlier.

Iowa State University Extension says weaning calves at 120-160 pounds will not only require less feed, but will allow cows to regain body condition with marginal quality feeds.

If the cow continues to graze good quality pasture she could gain 1.25 to 1.4 pounds per day, or add 0.4 to 0.5 body condition score in one month. If the cow is fed a typical hay ration it could reduce the daily cow feed bill $0.30 to $0.50 per head. The added body condition will also pay dividends in reduced winter-long energy requirements and improved reproductive performance.

Because calves are functionally monogastric at birth, some producers may have concerns about whether a calf’s rumen can handle grain consumption early in life. But, studies have indicated that the rumen develops as it needs to according to Olson.

Calves weaned early still have passive immunity from their mothers. Studies have indicated that if early-weaned calves are vaccinated one month prior to weaning and again at six months of age, they are healthier throughout the feeding period than conventionally-weaned calves.

Calves should also be castrated and dehorned two weeks before weaning to reduce stress at weaning, according to University of Minnesota Extension.

Some studies have also shown that fenceline weaning decreases stress in young calves, which will help their immunity. Early-weaned calves will only reach this potential by being intensively managed.

Beyond that, the things to think about when it comes to managing early-weaned calves are the same things a producer would plan for in traditional operations.

Vaccination, parasite control, stress management, disease monitoring and treatment, diet composition and intake management are all important with early-weaned calves - just as they are for later-weaned animals, the researcher said.

Considerations for pen layout, sanitation and animal comfort are still necessary, too.

Early-weaned calves are even more selective about what they’ll eat than traditionally-weaned calves are. This makes the composition of feed critical to a successful transition, he said. Palatability factors - moisture content, particle size and ingredients - are all key to the process. A clean and abundant water supply is also important.

Because calves are not accustomed to eating from bunks, he suggested that an extra feed bunk and watering device be added to calf pens, placed perpendicular to the normal feed bunk. When calves circle the pen, they will encounter the feeding and watering devices.

Many producers assume that early-weaned calves are lighter in weight and not as marketable, Olson said. Numerous studies have shown, however, that early-weaned calves fed concentrate diets in confinement have body weights equal to or greater than those of conventionally-weaned animals at the normal weaning time.

Olson cited several studies in which cows lost either one body condition score or about 100 pounds of body weight over the course of 60 days. He estimated that producers could save up to $140 per cow during winter 2008 if they prevent this cow body-weight loss by weaning calves 60 days earlier. Even selling a lighter calf immediately after weaning could bring a greater return ($40 to $80) to producer labor and management than waiting for a conventional weaning age.

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