Preweaned calf management and weaning outlets KJ Whitman

Pre-weaned calf management and weaning outlets KJ Whitman, DVM, MS

Spring calving herds-beef cattle cycle • Calves removed from dam-methods? • About 6 months of agewhat determines? • About 4 -5 CWT • May be preconditioned • May be vaccinated, medicated at this time • What are the options for where this calf goes? Precalving Calving WINTER FALL SPRING Breeding Weaning SUMME R Branding

Overview of the (traditional) weaning process +/-PRECONDITIONING WEANING-VARIOUS METHODS • • REPLACEMENTS CONTRACTING ORDER BUYERS AUCTIONS/SALE BARNS RETAINED OWNERSHIP BACKGROUNDER/STOCKER • • COW HERD FEEDLOT HARVEST DRYLOT GRASS

Weaning methods • Immediate • Abrupt and movement away from home • Abrupt and stay at home • Fence-line • Nursing aversion tools

Common Diseases of Calves at Weaning • Respiratory • Upper and lower • Digestive • Nutritional/Dietary • Internal parasitism • Musculoskeletal/lameness • External parasitism

Immediate Weaning How it works • • Abrupt removal from dam +/- preconditioning Truck or stay at home Direct placement in feedlot, backgrounding/stocker operations • Heifer development Disease risk • Related to stress • +/- travel • Comingling • Trauma • Digestive disturbances

Fence-line Weaning How it works • Separate calf and dam by a fence • • line No physical contact or nursing, but presence Usually a period of 1 -2 weeks +/- preconditioning period Direct placement in feedlot, backgrounding/stocker operations Disease risk • Much lower stress • Similar diseases but lower risk • Digestive disease may be reduced if there is a transition diet present in weaning pasture

Nursing Aversion Tools How it works • Leave the calf with the cow • Apply temporary nose ring to calf that is uncomfortable for the cow: 4 -7 days • She refuses to let calf nurse, dries up, calf is weaned • +/- preconditioning, several handling steps, removal of nose ring at processing and movement to new environment Disease risk • Stress during handling periods, but perhaps smoother transition • Similar diseases

Determining Weaning Time/Age • Tradition • 5 -7 months of age • Aug-Nov in spring calving herds • Weather, pasture condition • Early weaning due to drought • Cow condition • Cows are thin, calf removal gives cows more time to recover • Marketing • Opportunities may dictate earlier or later weaning times • Replacement heifer needs, sales • Alternative methods • Leaving calves on cows through the winter-delayed weaning

Preconditioning How it works • Vaccination prior to separationusually 2 -3 weeks prior Disease risk • Better immunity at most stressful time point • At weaning: +/- vaccine booster • Similar disease risks, better management? • +/- Nutritional adjustments • Direct placement in feedlot, backgrounding/stocker operations

Post-Weaning Pathways: Direct to Feedlot • Calves are weaned • Young, lightweight, more risk • Placed on a truck • Shipped directly to feedlot-potentially contracted • Live or video auction market • Retained ownership • Handling and receiving diet is critical • Various strategies for reducing disease

Post-Weaning Pathways: Backgrounding/Stockers • Backgrounding: Dry lot/yards • Preparation for the feed lot and finishing period • Combines grazing, harvested forages with concentrate rations • Ideal for lighter weight calves (~400 lb) • Time period between entry into backgrounding situation to feedlot can vary

Post-Weaning Pathways: Backgrounding/Stockers • Stocker/Yearling operations • Similar or the same as “backgrounding” • May utilize grazed forages more • Supplemental feed requirements vary with forage availability and calf status • Lightweight calf preparation for feed lot: 700850 lb target weight • Time period: 3 -12 months • Modest gains primarily through grazing: 1 -2. 5 lb. per day

Replacement heifers • Selection of replacement females may occur before weaning or during backgrounding/stocker phase • Selection based upon: • Number needed • Weight/growth • Physical characteristics • FERTILITY? ? ? • Can manage with steer calves on grass or retain separately • May require additional vax?

Replacement Heifers • What role can a veterinarian provide?

Nutritional Management • Don’t Rock the (Rumen) Boat! • When do calves become ruminants? • Options: • Preconditioning-creep feeding • Backgrounding/stocker-transition diets • Entry into feedlot-receiving diets

Nutritional Management-Creep Feeding • Allows for more gradual dietary transition • Promotes the use of a bunk feeder • Decreases demands on dam? • Allows for administration of medication • Required in times of inadequate forage • Additional expense • May not give any growth advantage • Behavior issues? • Promote dietary disease earlier on? • Administration of feed-grade medication may be too late

Nutritional Management. Backgrounding/Stocker • Stress management through forage consumption • Familiarity • Utilization of pastures • Negative effects of nutritional stress are mitigated • Opportunity to train to bunk and waterers before feedlot entry • Allows for more growth and maturity • Physically and immunologically • Bigger into feedlot • Less time on feed, less efficient?

Nutritional Management-Receiving Diets • Calves • Yearlings • May vary depending on history • Primarily forage or forage-based TMR • Gradual transition from forage to • May vary depending on history • May be at higher risk for acidosis • Adaptation is still required concentrate ration GOAL=FEED EFFICIENCY

Weaning process review WEANING-VARIOUS METHODS +/-PRECONDITIONING • • REPLACEMENTS CONTRACTING ORDER BUYERS AUCTIONS/SALE BARNS RETAINED OWNERSHIP BACKGROUNDER/STOCKER • • COW HERD FEEDLOT HARVEST DRYLOT GRASS

Questions?