North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service

Drought Strategies

Early Weaning Beef Calves

DS-8-97, June 1997
Russ Danielson, Beef Cattle Management Specialist


Weaning calves early may become a necessary option when forage supplies are limited as a result of drought conditions. Early weaning lowers the nutrient requirements of the cow and increases the carrying capacity of stressed pasture, directly affecting the forced sale or relocation of quality breeding animals. The management decision on the proper time to wean directly affects the short and long term performance of the calf, the cow and the pasture.

Weaning calves prior to the traditional age of 6-7 months can increase stress and reduce calf performance if proper health, nutrition and management practices are not followed. Conversely, weaning after pastures have severely deteriorated will also result in poor calf performance. From the standpoint of the cow, the advantage of early weaning during drought periods is usually reflected in less body condition loss and improved conception rates. As body condition loss occurs in the lactating cow a general decline in milk production normally follows. Overgrazing drought stressed pastures will have long term effect on forage production by reducing plant vigor and increasing less desirable plant populations.


How Early Can Calves Be Weaned?

Calves have been weaned successfully at less than 2 months of age, but this is younger than is practical under most conditions. The rumens of calves are normally functioning sufficiently at 120 days of age to provide satisfactory gains without the benefit of milk or milk replacers. Therefore, weaning March and April born calves in late July-early August is preferred to an earlier weaning date.


What Special Health Considerations?

The stress of early weaning directly influences the health and well being of the calf after weaning. Castration, dehorning and branding should be completed at least 10-14 days prior to weaning. Protection from clostridial and viral infection should be provided by vaccinating calves prior to weaning with a seven-way clostridial injection, IBR-BVD vaccines, and other veterinarian recommended protection. If a "booster" or re-vaccination is required for any vaccine, it is essential that label recommendations are followed. To minimize product losses due to injection site blemishes, all vaccinations should be administered in the neck or shoulder region and not in the hind quarter. Protection from flies and parasites is also included in a good health program.

Injection of supplemental vitamin A, D and E is a relatively low-cost health aid which should be considered for early weaned calves. Commercial growth implants generally enhance calf weight gain and should not be overlooked, especially for calves not kept for breeding purposes. Calves should always have access to clean water and a complete mineral package should be offered in loose form.

Monitor calves regularly for signs of respiratory problems, digestive disturbances, scours, coccidiosis and sorting of feed.


What Is The Best Bunk Management?

The palatability and acceptance of offered feed is critical to ensuring adequate feed intake by early weaned calves. A least cost ration will not be the most economical ration if calves do not readily eat it. Calves need to consume 2.5-3.0 percent of body weight in dry feed daily to have satisfactory performance. Offering high quality, easily digested feeds and roughages in a form that calves will consume is important bunk management. Calves should be creep fed starting three weeks before weaning to minimize stress and insure adequate feed intake following weaning. Initially, newly weaned calves should be offered long stem grass hay, the form they are most familiar with. Once weaned and on feed, calves will prefer chopped forage to long stem hay. Alfalfa should be added gradually over a 14 day period as calves start on feed. Mix the grain portion with the forage to encourage consumption of the concentrate. If the calves sort and consume the grain leaving the forage, adjust the type of forage to make the total ration more palatable. Over consumption of grain can lead to bloat and/or acidosis in the calves. Dust in the ration should be minimized and can be controlled by adding 3-5 percent molasses. Offering corn silage, hay silage or other fermented feeds is not recommended for early weaned calves as the taste and bulk of the feed discourages a satisfactory level of consumption.

Calves weighing 300 pounds should consume 8-9 pounds of dry feed daily. A 50:50 roughage-grain mix containing 13-15 percent protein generally will provide satisfactory calf performance provided the feeds are high quality and not stale or rancid. A minimum average daily gain of 2 pounds is required to compete with calves weaned at 6-7 months of age. Hand feeding whole oats or a commercial starter ration with free choice, quality grass hay is an excellent way to start calves on feed. Once through the weaning process and on feed, calves may be switched to a balanced mixed ration offered in a self feeder.


What Are The Facility Requirements?

Initially calves should be penned in a small, secure, well sheltered pen or pasture when weaned. A more confined area will reduce the amount of pen travel. In drought conditions, respiratory problems caused by dust are a real possibility. Provide sufficient, accessible bunk space and water sources. Locate the feed bunks and water source near the perimeter fence, forcing calves to access feed and water as they travel the fence line. If possible, place one or two older calves that are accustomed to bunk feeding with the younger calves to teach by example. Initially, limit the number of calves per pen to 20-25 for the first few days. Smaller, more timid calves may not be able to eat or drink adequate amounts when competing with a large number of calves. After 10-14 days calves can be successfully grouped in a larger pen.

Drought conditions may force cow calf producers to wean calves earlier than the desired calendar date. Early weaning can be successfully accomplished with acceptable calf performance if the health, nutrition and physical needs of the calf are met. The future prospect of higher calf prices and increased demand for replacement females may justify the added feed and overhead expense resulting from early weaning compared to supplementing nursing cows or selling cow-calf pairs.


DS-8-97, June 1997


NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
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