Brian Freking, SE District Extension Livestock Specialist, offers vaccine handling advice as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner” published electronically by Paul Beck. Today Freking is talking about a product that can reduce the stress of weaning calves.
Have you considered using a product such as maternal bovine appeasing substance (mBAS) aka FerAppease® during weaning. The management key points listed in the bullet list below for fence line weaning have been fairly broadly accepted as a stress minimizing management technique. Could cows on the opposite side of the fence still be providing enough appeasing substance (pheromone) to keep calves calmer?
Fence Line Weaning Benefits
- Calves stand next to fence within eye site and smell of cow
- Process shown to range from 48 to 72 hours
- Normal separation ranges from 7-10 days (old system)
- Calves gradually separate via grazing within 48 hours
- Less vocalization
Scientists have been investigating reducing stress in cattle for decades. Current published information shows promise for the use of mBAS. Journal of Animal Science, 2020, Vol. 98, No. 9, 1-10 provides results from Reinaldo Cooke Texas A&M University providing a detailed project report from this product. Growth rate from day 0 to 28 was greater (P=0.05) in mBAS versus control calves (2.21 lb/d vs 1.87 lb/d, respectively; SEM = 0.125 ) and did not differ (P=0.23) from day 28 to 42 between treatments. The key consideration is calves tend to adjust quicker to eating during the stressful first week after weaning. Calves eating routinely coincides with better immunity therefore less of a need for treatment for respiratory complexes. Cortisol concentrations, a biomarker of chronic stress, has been shown to be reduced in calves treated with mBAS.
One common question raised is how long does this product last? The current recommendation is that it will last approximately 14 days. Therefore, utilizing this type of technology would require a precondition period of approximately 45 days to see a return on investment (ROI). As always Read Label Directions but currently it calls for a dosage rate in Adult cattle to be 5 ml to the Nuchal skin and second 5 ml application to the skin above the muzzle. For calves, apply half the dose on the same locations. There is no slaughter withdrawal period.
Administration of mBAS to beef calves may be a strategy to alleviate some of the physiological and behavioral stress responses elicited by weaning.
