Ask the Consultant: Early weaning benefits first-calf cows, calves

Lactation is one of the most nutritionally intensive production stages a cow goes through on an annual basis.

Livestock Consultant / Noble Research Institute

While the cow is trying to support all of the above physiological functions, forage quality diminishes due to grasses going into summer dormancy because of high temperatures and lack of moisture. As a result, the nutritional quality of forage is not enough to support continued growth of either the cow or calf.

Early weaning of the calf can benefit both the cow and calf in this situation. The nutritional requirements associated with lactation will cease for the cow, and the calf can be placed on a high-quality feed ration that will better support its genetic potential for growth.

Advantages of early weaning

Early weaning of the first-calf cow can help improve body condition score going into winter and, subsequently, calving season of the second calf. Additionally, it can help improve calving rates and lower dystocia percentages of the second calf.

Once lactation ends, the nutritional requirements of the cow will drop by 15 to 20 percent. This allows the cow to use the excess nutrition (relative to what is needed for maintenance and gestation requirements) available in late summer and early fall forages for continued growth and regaining body condition before the harsh effects of winter become prevalent. This reduces the need for higher levels of supplementation during winter, which translates into a direct cost savings.

Cows one body condition score low going into the winter will require up to 120 percent more feed to gain weight during the winter when compared to a cow that just needs to maintain condition. A cow not nutritionally deprived will have a better chance of carrying a calf to term. Additionally, if the cow is in adequate body condition at calving, it should have the necessary energy reserves to complete the birthing process unassisted.

Finally, the effects of early weaning can carry over into enhanced conception rates for the third calf by ensuring the female goes into the third breeding season in adequate body condition to support pregnancy. The cow’s body condition at calving of the second calf will dictate the cow’s condition 60 to 90 days later when trying to rebreed for the third calf.

It has been demonstrated numerous times in scientific literature a female in a body condition of 4 or less will have greatly reduced conception rates and a longer interval from calving to rebreeding, which translates into a smaller, younger calf at weaning thereafter.

How to manage early weaned calves

The early weaned calf should be placed on a high-quality, nutritionally dense ration in order for it to meet its genetic potential for growth. These young calves are very efficient at converting feed to gain, which helps to economically support the decision to place them on feed at such a young age. Prior to the typical weaning date/age of a calf, the early weaned calf can have feed conversion ratios equivalent to that of the pork industry: fewer than 5 pounds of feed per 1 pound of gain.

Cows out in pasture

Data indicates British x Continental crossbred calves weaned at an average of 150 days old and placed on a finishing ration will reach harvest weights greater than 1,250 pounds by 13 months old and have a high percentage of animals that will grade Choice or better. The calf will be on feed for more total days of its life but is more efficient overall because of the high feed conversion rates as a young calf.

The combined amount of feed saved from reducing cow winter feed supplementation and the increased total days on feed for the calf still results in a lower total amount of feed needed through the system.

Couple this with increased conception rates for the second and third calf, and the potential for older, heavier calves for the rest of the cow’s life in the herd, and it is easy to see the advantage of early weaning calves off of first-calf cows when summer pastures become limiting in forage quality or quantity.

While early weaning seems to be counterintuitive, over the long term, early weaning of first-calf cows can help the ranch improve this key production indicator.