How do I wean a calf?

[raymilosh]

I have posted about my Dexter and her Dexter/angus calf here before. I've been miling mom for a few months now and she is becoming a real sweetie, especially now that I brush her after I milk her. It has made her way more agreeable in general. absolutely LOVES being brushed under her chin and on her throat...that's where the ticks are, so i spoze it's itchy. She is OK with being milked on the stanchion, now, too. It's all working out well...other than her teats being a bit too small to milk easily...I typically strip the milk out of the rear 2 teats.
Anyhow, her calf is 7 mos old and still nurses. I separate them every morning, milk mom in the evening and then let them back together for the night.
I'm wanting to wean the calf so I can get more milk for the time being and so i can send mom off to be bred.
Do I just permanently separate them one day, or do i ease them into it somehow ...like separate them for 16 hours a day or let them together every other day...?

[Ernie]

Separate them for a few days. Cattle panels work well for this if you can set up a temporary paddock where the calf can still see momma but can't get to her to nurse. Some animals wean in a few days, and some will try to nurse even after 14 days.

[Tom in TN]

Ray,

I agree with Ernie 100%. Here are just a couple of more thoughts on the process. Be ready for bawling. Both the calf and the momma will bawl a lot for three to five days. It's best to let them see each other. That reduces the stree somewhat, but they are going to be very upset for a few days no matter what.

I keep my calves away from their mothers for at least a month after I wean them. Too many of them will go back onto the teats if they're turned back in to their mothers in less time than that. On the other hand, I only raise beef cattle. They dry off pretty quickly and I don't really know how long it will take to convince your calf to stay off her mother if you're going to continue milking her. I'm not sure if you can ever turn her back in during the current lactation period.

If there is any weakness or breach in your fences, they'll get back together. They will be desperate for a while and will push, jump, crawl, etc. to be reunited. Don't be surprised if they find (or make) a hole in your fences.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

[Tom in TN]

Ray,

That would be "reduces the stress" not "reduces the stree".

Don't you hate to see mistakes that you've overlooked even after proofing a post?

Tom in TN

[Ernie]

You're going to want to be a little careful around momma cow too while she's separated. Some of them react badly to it.

When I was eight years old I was holding a gate to a pen full of weaning calves. One of the mothers took that opportunity to charge the gate. She hit the gate, the gate hit me and split open my head. I was unconscious for over 45 minutes. They had to fly me to Houston to a children's hospital there to look for brain damage. (My wife says they missed some.)