Early Weaning Strategies
Health and nutrition are critical when weaning early in drought areas
Drought hit hard this year in key cow/calf areas and continues to spread into other areas of the country with the heat of summer. One strategy that can help reduce the cow forage needs heading into late summer and fall is early wean calves when they are 90 to 120 days old. According to Jess Hinrichs, DVM, a senior veterinarian with Zoetis beef technical services, young calves are resilient and with proper planning can be a marketing opportunity for producers.
“There are times when I would rather wean a 90-day-old calf instead of one that’s 7 months old,” Dr. Hinrichs says. “Young calves can adapt quickly in a dry lot and if I’m weaning in summer weather, the temperature is more consistent than in the fall when we have those larger temperature swings.”
Ideally, calves are vaccinated two to three weeks before they are weaned to give their immune system a chance to respond without any stress. “If we vaccinated at branding and turnout, this is a booster for those vaccinations,” Dr. Hinrichs says. “If we didn’t vaccinate before turnout, this dose is really important to set that calf up for success later on.”
“Where you wean the calves is important,” Dr. Hinrichs says. Grass traps or a dry lot with bedding are key for moderating temperature in hot weather. A dirt lot with no bedding in the summer is hotter than one that has bedding. Access to shade also helps keep calves cooler.
Easy access to fresh water is critical. “These lightweight, young calves are prone to dehydration, so we need to make sure our water source is adequate and low enough for them to reach,” Dr. Hinrichs says.
He recommends a booster of Inforce 3® respiratory vaccine and a metaphylactic dose of Draxxin® (tulathromycin injection) Injectable Solution at weaning to help reduce respiratory challenges in fresh early-weaned calves. “If they have been grazing, I would also give them a dose of Valcor® (doramectin and levamisole injection) to reduce any parasite burden they have,” Dr. Hinrichs says.
Young calves are efficient in their growth, so Dr. Hinrichs says producers want to do whatever they can to add pounds during this time. “When you look at the price per pound for calves, you need to do what you can to help them gain weight during the weaning period,” he says. “An implant, such as Synovex Primer®, will help add frame and growth to calves without them gaining too much condition at this stage.”
What producers feed an early-weaned calf requires special attention. “In these lightweight calves that are less than 400 pounds, every bite they eat is critical,” says Blaine Corners, PhD, a senior nutritionist with the beef strategic technical services team at Zoetis. “We need to make sure they are getting the right mix of nutrients in everything they eat.”
Dr. Corners says the quality of the nutrients is key because producers are starting with an animal that has limited ruminal function. He explains that the goal with what is being fed is to support the bacterial population in the calf’s developing rumen.
“We are going to start with a diet that is foundational in forage because that is what the calf is used to and it needs to be hay with lots of leaves that are easily digestible,” Dr. Corners says. “We will then supplement with a ration that meets the rest of the energy and protein needs, but we need to really think about the source and how the calf’s digestive system can use it. We are continuing to build a bacterial population in the gut that will break down and utilize a fiber-based diet. Fat as a source of energy won’t help us do that.”
“For a young calf we need to balance the pH in the rumen through our sources of energy and protein,” Dr. Corners says. “I prefer half of the protein coming from distiller’s grains or corn gluten meal, and the rest ideally from cottonseed meal, but you can substitute in soybean meal. They complement each other in the amino acid makeup, and it doesn’t throw off the balance of the rumen.”
“Half of the calf’s immune system is focused on the digestive tract,” Dr. Corners says. “If we keep their gut healthy and functioning, then the immune system can focus on the lungs.”
Drs. Corners and Hinrichs encourage producers to work closely with their veterinarian and a nutritionist to develop a strategy to effectively wean calves early. For more information on vaccination programs from Zoetis, visit BuildingHealthyHerds.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR DRAXXIN: Draxxin has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 18 days in cattle. Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the product. See full Prescribing Information at draxxin.com/pi.
SAFETY INFORMATION FOR SYNOVEX: Refer to individual labels for complete directions for use, precautions, and warnings. Reimplant only if and as directed in labeling.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VALCOR: Do not treat cattle with Valcor within 15 days of slaughter. Not for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows; not for use in beef calves less than 2 months of age, dairy calves, and veal calves. Safety has not been evaluated in breeding bulls. Use with caution in cattle treated with cholinesterase inhibitors. This product is likely to cause injection site swelling; tissue damage (including granulomas and necrosis) may occur. These reactions have resolved without treatment. See full Prescribing Information at ValcorTough.com/pi.
About Zoetis
Zoetis is the world’s leading animal health company, driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. With a legacy of nearly 75 years, Zoetis continues to pioneer ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, supporting veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners in over 100 countries. We integrate deep scientific expertise, data-driven R&D, advanced manufacturing, and commercial excellence to deliver meaningful innovation across medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, and digital solutions. Guided by our vision to be the most trusted and valued animal health company, Zoetis is committed to setting new standards for the future of animal care through innovation, customer obsession, and purpose-driven colleagues. To learn more, visit Zoetis.com.
