Weaning Calf...

JulieLou42 · #1 04/22/07, 12:34 AM

I finally have the pen inside the first paddock hotwired! That meant I could separate my 9-month old steer calf from his mother in order to wean him. Yesterday, they were kept apart for about 9 hours, and she milked out a bit more than a half gallon around 8 p.m. on no grain or alfalfa.

I've not been graining her but once or twice a week the past several months, so am increasing that quite a bit to keep her quantity up to at least a gallon per day, and only giving it to her at milking now. I've not milked her for about 8 months.

This morning I got nearly a gallon from her.

She had weaned her first one by 9 months, but didn't seem the least bit interested in weaning this one. Weather's warm enough now and family wants her milk, so I'm doing it for her!

So far, she's been pretty cooperative. They're making a lot of noise calling for each other, though...except when they're eating! Hopefully that will stop in a couple of days.

Karin L · #2 04/22/07, 11:31 AM

First time I've heard of someone weaning a calf at 8 or 9 months. Usually they'd be weaned at a younger age by a couple months, most likely 6.

Them momma cows....they always don't want to be separated by their calves. And the calves don't want to be separated either. What weaning method are you using?

A couple of days will do it, so good luck to ya.

sammyd · #3 04/22/07, 08:24 PM

9 months....only a month to dry her off if she bred back on time.
I'd cut the grain off, milk her 2x a day for a bit and go to 1x for a week or so to dry her off.
At 9 months the calf should be OK to go alone just make sure he's got good feed and water.

JulieLou42 · #4 04/24/07, 01:59 AM

She's not bred yet...what with not getting but a little grain and alfalfa for 8 months...or that this steer of hers tries to mount her at least once a day...I've not witnessed the usual signs of her heats, which were extremely evident over the past five years, so that I COULD call out the AI tech. I'm waiting for late August or early Sept. for that, so that her next one will come in June, when it's not quite so cool and rainy here.

Meanwhile, I want to take what milk she has left, 'cause that steer of hers sure doesn't need it...he's already nearly 900# according to the weight tape, and we'll be eating him in about three months, if he keeps gaining at the rate that he has so far. He's about 150# heavier/larger than his 11 month older brother from the very same parents.