Spring born calves are now being weaned, shipped, marketed and transitioned from summer through fall to winter. The words “calf weaning” can spell fear for some producers and opportunity for others. Weaning practices or methods vary from conventional methods to ones where pre-conditioning is involved, to fenceline, two-step, or simply the “weaning them on the truck to town” method.
Start planning your winter-feeding program
Now is the time to start planning your winter-feeding program. Adequate nutrition is vital for both the calf and cow in terms of health and productivity. Thin cows are harder to breed back; produce less milk and wean lighter calves. However, on the flip side, it is important to supplement only what is necessary without wasting feed or money in order to remain profitable.
Fall: An excellent time to put weight on your cows
Fall can be a very busy time of the year for Cattlemen.Weaning, harvesting and attending to children and grandchildren in school activities are just a few of the opportunities that take up our time as we prepare for Winter.For those of you with spring calving herds, Fall also offers an additional opportunity to put weight on cows – cheaply.
