Milk is a highly nutrient-dense feed, and producing enough of it to satisfy a growing calf takes a lot of quality feed on the cow’s part. During lactation, cows put a large proportion of the nutrition they eat towards milk production, so it is common for them to lose condition.
You may have a calf weaning weight benchmark in mind, but the cow’s condition is the best indicator of when to wean. If cows have been “milking off their backs” for an extended period, consider weaning early. Getting the calves off gives cows the chance to regain condition before the next pregnancy cycle.
That condition is far cheaper to keep than to rebuild. When a cow loses 1 kg of liveweight, she frees up 28 MJ ME. Putting that same kilogram back on costs 42 MJ ME, so don’t let your cows lose too much weight as you pay almost double to put it back on later.
As dry conditions bite and feed quality and quantity declines, early weaning may also be the more efficient option. At current fodder costs, it can make more sense than supplementary feeding cows that are still feeding calves.
Keep weaners growing
Whenever you decide to wean, keeping calves growing and developing through the process is what matters most. This period can shape their body composition and productive capacity for the rest of their lives. It is also far more efficient to wean and feed weaners and cows separately than to feed them together.
A 200 kg weaner should be aiming for around 1 kg/head/day of liveweight gain. To get there, it needs a diet providing 80 MJ ME and 16% crude protein daily. Calves on good-quality fodder convert feed very efficiently, so money spent on good feed during weaning is likely to bring the greatest return over the animal’s life.
Tips for a stress-free yard weaning
ANP Chief Nutritionist Dr Paul Meggison has a few suggestions for a successful, low-stress yard weaning.
Preparation starts before the calves leave their mothers
- Imprint feed the calves at least three times before weaning so they are already familiar with their new feed.
- Creep feeding a pellet or grain mix is also good practice, and Paul is happy to talk through suggested diet specs and formulations. Grain speeds up rumen development, which helps the animal make better use of forage throughout its life.
On the day
- Wean animals that are in appropriate condition.
- Pick a mild day with no rain and a maximum temperature under 30 degrees. That can be hard to find in a hot summer. If it can’t be avoided, wean early in the morning or late in the afternoon to minimise heat stress.
- Where possible, group animals into weight classes.
In the yards
- Provide clean, fresh water and ad lib high-quality hay or silage, along with some straw for extra roughage.
- Offer a simple grain mix or pellets in gradually increasing amounts.
Minerals need attention too
- Once calves stop drinking milk, they no longer get adequate calcium, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin E and trace elements, so these need to be supplemented.
- StockGro-EziWean is a great way to fill that gap.
Finally, keep on top of fly management to reduce the incidence of pinkeye
See our article Get in front of flies to beat pinkeye this summer for more.
StockGro-EziWean is an effective liquid feed supplement designed specifically for weaning. It meets mineral, vitamin and trace element requirements, reduces stress for cows and calves, and supports rumen development. That helps weaners hold their weight and move onto new diets quickly, setting them up for a productive life.
