Opinion

Tips on making weaning time smoother

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Weaning time is stressful on cows, calves and people. You can ask any producer about their experiences and they will all have at least one story of weaning gone wrong.

The magnitude of weaning as a stressor was emphasized by Dr Joe Stookey, PhD, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Canada at the International Symposium on Animal Welfare held in Manhattan in May. He pointed to the fact that cows and calves will bawl for days after weaning as evidence to support his belief that weaning is the most stressful experience in a calf's life.

The survival instincts of cattle as prey animals would normally keep them from alerting predators of their whereabouts and to blend in with the herd. Weaning seems like such a threat to survival that the cow and calf will vocalize loudly for days ignoring the fact that it may draw predators. We know the calf will have all it needs to survive, but the calf doesn't know that yet.

Two methods have been researched recently to reduce the stress of weaning; fenceline weaning and two-stage weaning. Both methods reduce signs of behavioral stress by the calves as compared to traditional weaning.

Fenceline weaning separates cows and calves by a fenceline in a familiar pasture for several days before removing cows from the area. Fenceline weaned calves will still walk the fence for the first couple of days but not nearly as much as traditionally weaned calves.

There are several ways of doing this but consider fencing cows in a smaller area with supplemental feed and leaving the calves in the bulk of the pasture.

Two-stage weaning uses an antisuckling device in place for three to seven days prior to actually separating the pair. Walking and vocalization are particularly reduced with two-stage weaning leading some to view it as the least stressful method.

Measurements of post-weaning gain indicate that fenceline weaned calves out gain traditionally weaned calves as far as 10 weeks after weaning, whereas improvement in gain in 2-stage weaned calves was only apparent in the first 2 to 3 weeks after being removed from dams.

Reducing stress at weaning could involve shifting from traditional weaning to fenceline or two-stage weaning. These methods won't fit all production settings but what might not have seemed possible at first glance may be when considered further.

Other steps to reduce stress at weaning:

* Ensure calves are prepared to respond to disease challenge by providing appropriate mineral nutrition and starting a vaccination program prior to weaning.

* Have both cows and calves together at the weaning site to allow cows to show calves the location of food and water.

* Teach calves to eat by providing a creep feeder a month before weaning.

* Make sure pens and waterers are clean and in good repair.

* Evaluate pen size and bunk placement so that stopping and eating is easier to do than walking the fence.

Now is the time to be assessing current weaning practices and looking for ways of minimizing stress to improve calf health, performance and well being.

This article was adapted from a piece written by Sandy Johnson, Northwest Area Livestock Specialist for K-State Research & Extension.

Editor's Note: Delta George is a K-State Research and Extension agriculture and 4-H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 223-3720.