The WHY of Vaccines
| WEANING METHOD | PROS | CONS |
| Total Separation | Sell right off the cow Less feed reserve ... | Very stressful for calves and potentiall ... |
| Fence-line | Less stress on calves Nose-to-Nose conta ... | Requires additional pasture/drylot space ... |
| 2-Stage | Less stress on calves Cows and calves st ... | Have to work calves multiple times to pu ... |
How do you start feeding weaning calves?
Using the 1,2,3 rule:
- Use the first milk (colostrum) from the cow
- Feed the calf colostrum within the first two hours of birth
- Calves must be offered at least three litres of good quality colostrum
How much do you feed a weaned calf?
consume 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in dry matter the first week on feed. These are calves that were fed on the farm in which they were raised and typically had been creep feed. The only major stress on the calves was weaning, and death loss and sickness were minimal. Yearling
When should calves be weaned from their mothers?
The short answer: Some calves can be weaned as early as 60 - 90 days and still be quite successful. The long answer: A calf can be weaned from its mother any time after birth. Typically, calves perform best if left on the cow until a good percentage (80-90%) of the diet they consume each day is grass or hay.
What is the optimal feeding level for calves?
The following practices for raising calves can:
- Decrease the exposure of calves to disease.
- Improve calf health.
- Improve calf survival rates.
- Improve growth rates.
What do you feed calves when weaning?
It transitioned the calves from a grass and milk diet to some sort of a total mix ration. Weanlings are often used to feedstuffs such as grass and hay, which are not rich in nutrients, so producers must find a way to balance the familiar feedstuff with new, nutrient-rich feeds.
How much feed should a weaned calf eat?
Calves will need 4 to 5 pounds of a grain-protein mixture per head daily to average 1.2 pounds daily on winter fescue pastures (Table 3). Forage sorghum, small grain and grass legume silages work well for wintering calves but are lower in energy than corn silage.
At what age do calves start eating grass?
about 2 weeks oldWhen Do Calves Start Eating Grass? Calves normally start to nibble on grass or hay within 1 or 2 days of being born. Calves start ruminating to some degree when they're about 2 weeks old, with their rumen fully developed by 90 days of age.
What nutritional requirements do calves need prior to weaning?
wean calves. Wean calves at least 80 kg live weight when the calf is consuming at least 1 kg of concentrates per day. Calves that have access to concentrates from the second week of life and are offered the minimal required volumes of milk will usually eat 1 kg of starter concentrates from approximately 8 weeks of age.
Is corn good for calves?
Corn is an excellent energy source for cattle, too. From a plant perspective, corn is a grass – it just happens to be a much more nutritious grass than the stuff that's growing in your yard. The starch and protein that the corn kernel provides help cattle grow and thrive.
What should I feed my 4 month old calf?
Treat calves more like piglets up to 4 months of age. Feed them a diet high in corn that is not restricted. Do not feed hay until 2 months of age. Feed only a high-quality, leafy forage from 2 to 4 months of age, and limit the amount of forage to no more than 10 percent of the diet, preferably 5 percent.
At what age can a calf survive without milk?
In extreme conditions, it is possible to successfully wean calves from 4 - 6 weeks of age without a milk replacer, provided appropriate management is applied. Calves 3 - 4 months of age are easier to feed and manage than younger calves.
What is the best time to wean calves?
The normal time to wean and transition a calf to an adult diet is between 5–8 months of age however, producers may be forced to wean earlier due to circumstances outside their control, such as: calf orphaned or ill. drought conditions (i.e. for the welfare of dam) calves born late in the season.
When can calves eat alfalfa?
Alfalfa for beef cows First cutting hay that is more mature or has been weather damaged can be well utilized by these cows; the best hay can be fed 30 days period to calving until about 60 days after calving. Alfalfa hay may be used as a protein source for cattle being fed poor quality grass hay or grazing corn stalks.
How much protein do weaned calves need?
Meet nutrient requirements. For early weaned, high stress or high-risk calves, a 65- 75 % concentrate will ensure higher energy intake at lower feed consumption. Protein should be 13-13.5 % to as high as 14.5% for early-weaned 300-500 lb.
How long do you feed calves grain?
Ease weaning stress by ensuring calves eat at least half a pound of grain per day for 4 weeks or a pound per day for 2 weeks and that they reach 2 pounds per day for 3 consecutive days before weaning.
What should I feed my 6 month old calf?
From grouping to 6 months, feed 5 pounds of calf grower daily and free-choice, high-quality hay. You may substitute pasture when it is available. From 6 months to 1 year, feed 0-7 pounds of herd concentrate daily; limit fed-silage, greenchop, or free-choice hay. You may substitute pasture when it is available.
How much grain should I feed my 5 month old calf?
From grouping to 6 months, feed 5 pounds of calf grower daily and free-choice, high-quality hay. You may substitute pasture when it is available. From 6 months to 1 year, feed 0-7 pounds of herd concentrate daily; limit fed-silage, greenchop, or free-choice hay. You may substitute pasture when it is available.
How much grain should a 6 month old calf eat?
pound calf will need to consume in the neighborhood of 7 to 8 pounds of grain daily.
How much grain should I feed my 600 lb calf?
For example, a 600 pound calf will eat 15-18 pounds of dry matter (2.5-3% of body weight) and a 1000 pound calf will eat 20-25 pounds of dry matter per day (2-2.5% of body weight). A few other tips: - change rations gradually over several days, and never more than about a half- pound increase over a couple days.
How much should a 3 month old calf eat?
At first, calves will consume only about a fourth of a pound of grain per day. This will increase to about 2 to 3 pounds of starter feed by 3 months of age and approximately 3 to 5 pounds of feed at 6 months of age. Do not feed more than a calf will clean up in a day to avoid leaving stale or moldy feed.
What is the K-state Hays weaning protocol?
Waggoner referenced a series of studies called the K-State Hays weaning feed management protocol, a step-by-step process used to wean calves so it would be standardized across different treatment groups. It transitioned the calves from a grass and milk diet to some sort of a total mix ration.
What happens if you don't feed your cows?
If they do not eat properly there’s an increased risk of disease. * Feeding both cows and calves a small amount of a supplement or the weaning ration out of a bunk prior to weaning when the calves are with the cows can be a good way to acclimate them to those feeds.
Why is it important to keep calves eating?
“It is important to keep the calves eating because there are many times where we create more problems for ourselves in a weaning program by getting ahead of the calves and offering them too much feed ,” Waggoner said.
What is a weanling's diet?
Weanlings are often used to feedstuffs such as grass and hay, which are not rich in nutrients, so producers must find a way to balance the familiar feedstuff with new, nutrient-rich feeds.
How to keep calves hydrated?
Until then, one way to keep calves hydrated is to place some additional water tanks or tubs in the pen. Like feed bunk placement, water tanks or tubs should be placed along the fence line so calves will quickly find them and start drinking. Cleanliness is also paramount to water consumption.
How much bunk space do calfs need?
If you’re using a calf starter feed with intake control properties in a self-feeder, each calf only needs six to eight inches of bunk space because they won’t all eat at once.
Can you wean cattle?
Weaning calves can be a stressful time for you and your beef cattle. But, the sooner you can get your calves to eat, the less likely they are to get sick. A few adjustments to your nutrition program can make a huge difference. 1.
Can you walk a calf out of a waterer?
If your calves are suddenly moved into a pen with an automatic waterer and they’ve never used one before, you can’t expect them to walk right up and drink out of one. It will take some time for calves to adapt to their surroundings and navigate the facilities with ease.
Do calves have enough bunk space?
If some calves are standing away from the feed bunk or are fighting to gain access to feed, you might not have enough bunk space. Additional bunk best practices include making sure fresh feed is available consistently, cleaning out uneaten or spoiled feed and gradually making any shifts in the amount of feed delivered.
Why are the first two weeks after weaning important?
That paper notes the first two weeks after weaning are critical because stress can be high and calves need to learn how to eat and drink.
How many calves per pen?
To insure that smaller and more timid calves get a chance at feed and water, limit 20 calves per pen during the critical first few days on the starter ration. Placing one or two older calves that are accustomed to eating and drinking in with the early-weaned calves helps to reduce stress on the weaned calves and give them someone to follow to ...
How to care for a calf?
1. The calves should be placed in a small pen with shelter available . The feed bunk and water source should be easily accessible and recognizable. 2. The ration needs to be high in energy and protein and highly palatable.
What is the best protein for a young calves?
Soybean meal or alfalfa is a preferable protein source over cottonseed meal for young calves, and Lalman says the ration labeled Diet B is well tested and favored by producers starting lightweight calves. 5.
Can silage be used in early weaning?
If silages and other fermented feeds will be used in an early weaning program, Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska beef specialist, says in another paper on early weaning those forages should be introduced gradually into the diets of young calves that are inexperienced with such feeds.
Which is better, diet A or diet B?
Oklahoma State University. Diet A has the advantage of requiring fewer commodities and no alfalfa pellets. Diet B is less bulky, resulting in better handling characteristics, and it should flow better in self-feeders. Also included in the reports are these eight pieces of advice. 1.
Does Oklahoma State University have a confined cow operation?
Oklahoma State University has for several years now maintained a confined-cow operation and therefore has calves on feed. Beef Producer asked OSU beef specialist Dave Lalman if he has any new lessons or thoughts from those experiences he would share. This is his answer:
What should a calf starter meal contain?
Calf starter meal should contain. As well as meal, calves also need to be offered fibre or roughage in the form of hay. Research has found that 6-7 week old calves fed concentrate ruminated for fewer minutes (6 minutes per hour) compared to calves fed forage such as hay (18 minutes per hour).
Why should I feed hay to my calves?
Hay should be fed ideally in hay nets or feeders to prevent calves from soiling it or using it as bedding. Fibre makes the rumen bigger and promotes the development of the rumen muscles by stimulating the receptors that trigger muscle contractions.
How long should a 6-7 week old cow eat hay?
As well as meal, calves also need to be offered fibre or roughage in the form of hay. Research has found that 6-7 week old calves fed concentrate ruminated for fewer minutes (6 minutes per hour) compared to calves fed forage such as hay (18 minutes per hour). The hay should ideally be short chopped and offered to calves in small amounts ...
Why do calves need hay?
Since calf meal is responsible for developing the lining of the rumen, and hay is responsible for developing rumen size and strength and for stimulating rumination; calves need BOTH roughage and grain to prepare them for weaning.
How much colostrum should I give my 40kg calf?
A 40kg newborn calf needs 4 litres of colostrum within the first 12 hours of life, but their abomasum (stomach) capacity is only about 2 litres, so you can’t physically feed this all in one feed. Ideally, a 40kg calf should be fed 2 litres of first milking colostrum within 6 hours of birth and another 2 litres of first milking colostrum within ...
How long does it take for a calf to get colostrum?
Calves need 10% of their bodyweight in high quality, first milking colostrum within the first 6 to 12 hours of life. This is because a calf is born without a fully functioning immune system, and needs to absorb antibodies from its mother’s colostrum across their guts, ...
Why is it important to rear a calf?
When young calves are being milk fed, they use only one (the abomasum) of their four stomachs; but the aim of successful calf rearing is to develop the calf rumen quickly and to produce a well grown, healthy, ruminating animal. It’s much cheaper to feed a calf meal and grass than it is to feed milk. In order to develop the calf’s rumen quickly, ...
How old do beef calves have to be to be weaned from dams?
There are data that indicates that beef calves can be successfully weaned from their dams when they are 45 days old. So when the youngest calf is between 45 to 60 days old, you could consider weaning them from their dams. It is important that waters and feed bunks are at a level that calves of this age can easily access them.
How long before weaning should cows be exposed to feed?
We know that the sooner calves consume feed after weaning, the lower the morbidity and mortality. This may mean that two to three weeks before weaning, start calves on a creep feed or offer cows a couple pounds of cubes three to four times a week.
What is the importance of feeding bunks and waters?
It is important that waters and feed bunks are at a level that calves of this age can easily access them. Also, consult your veterinarian as to herd health strategies. Calves at this young age are still responding to passive immunity that they received through colostrum. Your vet will help you with this component.
How long do cows stay at fences?
The first day, calves and cows will stay at the fence, after four days , they both will be content in their pastures. Continue to feed the calves or have the creep feeders available for them.
Do calves have rumen?
These calves have a small rumen and to keep them growing at an acceptable rate, the diets need to be well designed. Also, these diets need to be high quality, dust free, and particle size needs to be uniform so that calves cannot sort the rations.
WEANING
Weaning is one of the most stressful times for calves, and it doesn’t help that it’s also the most common time to give vaccinations. No one wants to work their cattle more than necessary.
The WHEN of weaning
Generally, 6-8 months of age; though calves can be weaned as young as 3 months. As long as your cows have good body condition and you have ample feed, there is really no reason to wean early. In Maryland, the majority of farms wean in the fall: September through early November.
The HOW of weaning
There are 3 methods of weaning commonly used in the beef industry. Each method has pros and cons, the key is finding the best one that suits your farming operation and the cattle market in your region.
The WHY of Vaccines
In the beef industry, we operate on tight margins and while $3-10 per animal (depending on the vaccination program you choose) may seem like a lot, especially when you factor in the labor of catching your cattle and running them through the chute, it’s really not. Especially when a sick animal happens – and it will.
The HOW of vaccines
There are 3 types of vaccines commonly used in the beef industry. Each has pros and cons, the key is finding the best one that suits your farming operation. Again, always consult with your veterinarian when making decisions about vaccine use on your farm.
How long does it take for a calf to grow?
The first twelve months are critical for skeletal and muscle growth. So, focus on giving your calves a high protein, nutritious diet to your newly weaned calves, until they reach about 250 kg of live bodyweight.
How many methods of weaning are there?
There are four commonly practiced methods of weaning and you have to choose the method (s) most suited to your system. Consider your time availability, farm infrastructure, labor skill levels and market potential while choosing your weaning method.
How old do you have to be to wean a heifer?
For example, you could set a minimum 8 weeks age and a 90 kg weight as your weaning target and if a heifer is at 90 kg at 7 weeks, you will need to wait another week to begin the weaning process.
What happens when you wean early?
When you wean early, cows consume less dry matter, eliminating forage demand from the calf as well . So the cows on pasture get more forage and your pasture demand automatically reduces, improving sustainability and future forage production.
Why do cows lose body condition?
Lactating cows lose body condition because of increased nutrient requirements. This can worsen during drought when there is lack of forage. When you wean early, you will eliminate much of the nutrient requirement, saving you money. Your cows’ body condition is maintained as well, prior to the fall or winter feed.
How much rumen should I feed my calf?
Rumen development is the most important point in weaning. You need to make sure your calf can consume at least 1 kg of calf meal (starter concentrate and water) or 2 kg of pasture a day. Attempt to wean your calves only after this milestone.
What is the process of weaning a calf?
As you know, weaning is the process of transitioning your calf from milk intake to a mix of forage or concentrate based diet. It’s when your calves begin to become a complete ruminant.
