By Scout Nelson
Weaning is often the most stressful time for calves. They face not only separation from their mothers but also other challenges like handling, transport, new feed, unfamiliar waterers, and environmental changes. This stress weakens their immune system, increasing the risk of illness or death. Reducing weaning stress helps improve calf health and growth.
One common method is abrupt separation, which causes high stress. To lower this, farmers now use low stress weaning methods like fence line weaning and two step weaning. These help calves adjust gradually, leading to better health and performance.
Fence line weaning means separating calves from cows using a fence for 3 to 7 days. The cows and calves can see and hear each other but cannot nurse. Research shows calves weaned this way to bawl less, eat more, and gain more weight than those abruptly separated. Calves maintain their weight better after full separation.
For fence line weaning to work, calves should get used to the pasture and water before separation. The fence must be strong enough to prevent nursing. After a few days, when calves and cows show less interest in each other, they can move apart.
Two step weaning uses special nose tags that stop calves from nursing but allow them to stay with their mothers for 4 to 7 days. These calves eat and drink normally. Studies show they bawl less and walk less than abruptly weaned calves. After removing the nose tags, the calves are separated. This method also improves weight gain and reduces stress.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-imaginegolf
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Dairy Cattle