CALF WEANING MANAGEMENT (part 1)
 This wet weather in the last couple of weeks may get some of you thinking about weaning off those
calves if you have not already done it.  Harvest is ahead of schedule so getting those calves off the
cows will allow the cows to get back into shape sooner.  Most cows lost condition this fall as
pastures dried up in August and September.

 There are several things to think about prior to weaning that can be done to reduce the stress on
those calves.  A good weaning program includes three components: facilities, feed/nutrition, and
health.

 Facilities include looking at your pen layout, weather protection, and your processing facilities.  The
best facilities are neither elaborate nor expensive.  Good facilities are simple and designed for the
calves.  If you need handling facilities, remember that we have books with suggested designs that you can borrow or you can look at using the Livestock Improvement's portable facilities, too!

 Remember that the calf is not looking for feed and water, it is looking for a way out to get back with its mother.  Keep pen sizes small and if you have a large pen, plan on splitting it with portable panels
with a pen depth of 60 feet suggested.  With the smaller pen size, the calves are less likely to spook
and causes wandering calves to more easily come across feed bunks and water tanks.  When newly
weaned, calves need about 60 square feet per head, one foot of bunk space and need to see open
water.  A temporary water tank is much better than an enclosed small non-freezing fountain type.  If
you are using portable bunks, put them against a fence.  The trick is to place the feed and water
around the exterior fence, taking advantage of the calves circling instinct to stumble onto the feed and water.

 If you are supplying shelter, place the feed and water there, as calves are more likely to use the
shelter.  Make sure that the shelter is needed, there is adequate ventilation, as pneumonia and other
problems can occur when calves are allowed to warm up with humidity problems inside a building.
You DO NOT want shelters to draw the calves away from the feed bunks.  Shelter can influence
behavior of newly weaned calves.

 Be able to work those calves without a rodeo.  Processing facilities should be close and functional.
Plan on vaccinating and castrating at least two weeks prior to weaning.  This helps ensure a good
healthy calf and that vaccinations work.  You should be castrating in the spring as a young calf to
reduce stress, but at least get it done prior to weaning!

 Newly weaned calves consume about 3.5 pounds of dry matter per day for the first 2 days after
weaning.  On day 7 they will eat about 9 pounds of dry matter per day, and on day 14 they will eat
about 14 pounds of dry matter per day.  But if a calf is sick, the consumption will only be about two
thirds of that amount at best.  Keeping calves healthy is important in getting them off to a good start.
All calves lose weight the first couple of days after weaning.  With a diet of just prairie hay, the
calves will lose weight until about day six or seven, but with a hay and grain based starter diet, they
can begin meeting maintenance levels at day four or five and then begin gaining the lost weight back.
Feed should be kept fresh, meet the calves requirements, be low in dust levels, use minimal urea
based proteins, and feed them twice a day for those early weeks after weaning.  All the feed should
be in bunks and not some in creep feeders and some in bunks.  Calves used to creep feeders won't
become bunk accustomed using both.

CALF WEANING MANAGEMENT - PART 2
 Feeds and nutrition are another important component to consider. Start calves on long stem hay similar to the grass pastures that they were used to.  Whether using a creep feeder on pasture or not, a starting diet at weaning needs to be enticing, palatable and nutritious.  The long stem hay is enticing and palatable, but not very nutritious.  A pelleted feed is very palatable and nutritious, but not very enticing.  From a distance the pellets are not readily visible in the bunk and are not recognized as feed by the calves at first.  You need to plan a ration that finds the middle ground and meets your calves resources and your resources (with lower cattle prices).

 Another component of a good calf weaning program is the health component.  You as a cattle
producer and veterinary should both be familiar with the operation, about conditions and plans, if any changes are taking place.  Take time to keep your veterinary aware of any problems and have any
remedies on hand before they happen.  Also, discuss vaccine forms: Modified Live Vaccine (MLV)
or killed or mixed forms; plus time and method of administration: preweaning or post weaning;
Inter-muscular or Sub-cutaneous; where the injection sites are at (try the front shoulder instead of
the high dollar rump or back; and what needle size to use (one half to three quarters of an inch for
sub-Q and one to one and a half inch for inter-muscular and no bigger than 16 gauge).  Disposable
needles are better than reusable.

 Antibiotics are also of concern when the calf is sick.  Injectables should be used as prescribed by
the veterinary.  Antibiotics are different so follow the prescription for dosage, route of administration, and needle sizes.  Antibiotics that are feed grade are also used so just be sure that they are needed.
If the calves are sick, feed grade antibiotics don't work very well if they are not eating.  Watch for
differences when pen feeding because healthy calves will consume more than prescribed.  They are
effective when properly used and in the proper context.

 Coccidiosis is something to consider today as it is often more of a problem than you realize.  Calves don't very often have problems in the yard but have the potential for flare-ups at any time.  There are some tremendous avenues for control that include Ionophores like Bovatec and Rumensin or another separate compound Decoquinate or DecOx.  These are prevention methods and do not work once
the problems occur.  These outbreaks cost you in terms of long term performance of the calves.
Work with your veterinary to find an effective treatment for individual calves or groups of calves.

Source:  Don Guthmiller, Hamlin Co. Extension Agent - Ag/4-H