Weaning methods

[Kathy Millar]

My friend wants to wean her heifer soon. She was born in mid-August so when can she wean her? She's getting tired of fighting the calf for the milk and Annie, the mom, doesn't want to allow herself to be milked anymore; getting fidgety and the calf is getting bigger and more pushy. I know that folks commonly separate the cow and calf overnight, then milk out the cow in the morning, but for reasons unknown, my friend doesn't do it that way.

The next question is; if I bring the heifer to my place to be weaned would it be best to keep her separate from my herd (2 cows, 2 6 month old weanlings and one steer) and just put her in the next paddock or should I give her company by putting my weaned heifer in with her or both weanlings (the bull has been castrated)? Or is there a better method?

I weaned my two calves by putting them in the paddock next to the herd. They screamed all night long (even the steer!! :p ) then settled down by the end of the next day. I keep them separated for about 2 weeks.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Kathy

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Like the man asked for directions, if I was going there I wouldn't be starting from here. I think that milking either by hand or machine and suckling a calf or calves is not always a good mix. I would have separated them at birth, milked the cow properly and fed the calf as per usual dairy calf rearing methods. You then have a very easy to handle youngster, a cow not upset every time there is confusion over who has got the milk rights, and you get a much more measurable milk yield. The calf is introduced to concentrate and good straw or hay diet from virtually day 1. Weaning is then not a problem either from the behavioural or nutritional point of view.
I assume your friend wishes to continue the milking, and with the calf away she may be pleasantly surprised by how much is being produced. Theoretically the calf could be weaned right now, but will need introduction to concentrate feed if it is to continue growing in the way it has with the milk available. This would be better done before you shift it, but that may not be easy if there are no suitable pens to separate it from the other stock. Shifting the calf to your premises will minimise the separation difficulties after the initial shock to dam and calf. If the two are kept separate but in close proximity milking times will be a stressful time for all concerned. The alternative if the milking is not going well is to abandon milking and leave the calf on the cow for another few months, and take the calf off the cow about 2 months before next calving. I have once or twice left a calf on its mother till the next calf appears, and they seem to wean themselves shortly before the next calf appears. I f you do that though you need to be very sure the cow is getting enough food to cope without loosing too much condition.

If you take the calf on to your premises it would be best among similar sized calves if you have any. It might get a bit of a tough time if it is in with cows especially if it is constantly looking for milk. It will not be happy on its own.

Duncan

[Elizabeth]

Hi Kathy; I take the calves off right away and hand feed. It is a bit of a chore sometimes but I found that my Dexters would not properly let milk down if they remembered their calf, not my imagination, I use a machine! Anyway it was/is also important for me to keep milking records. Anyway, the little guy can cerainly be weaned now, he she is just being a pain. I have one on the bottle once a day the same age, but that is only that I want the ease of following that bottle to switch him from an outside paddock to the barnyard. Your place is definately easier, out of site....24 hours bellowing by the dam and about the same from the calf. Whenever friends tell me that it sounds so sad...I point out that if my mother had lost me at birth or shortly thereafter, hopefully she would have looked longer that just a day!!! Liz

[groubearfarm]

I have a cow that has now been separated from her third calf and she bellows for two weeks every time, I have just weaned a calf whose mother couldn't care less but she bellowed for well over a week. I think it depends alot on the personality as so how much stress and noise is caused by weaning, that is just Dexters for you! Fiona

[Kathy Millar]

Thanks to all for your advice. The calf is eating hay now and has grown very well. I don't know if she has had any concentrates but it sounds as though she could be weaned soon. My two calves should provide good company as they are not that much bigger and her calf is well trained!! She didn't take the calf away when it was born because she was working off Island for half the week but now she is moved over here full time, that might be possible with the next calf.

Kathy