What’s good for calves is good for your pocketbook

The benefits of low-stress weaning are clear — higher weight gains 
and a big drop in treatments

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Published: May 11, 2017

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Weaning is a traumatic event for calves and when it happens abruptly, they are more likely to be sick later on.

Calves that are fenceline weaned vocalize 50 per cent less, walk less, and have higher weight gains in the first 10 weeks post-weaning compared to conventionally weaned calves.

Fenceline weaning is nearly as effective as two-stage weaning at reducing signs of stress. With this method, cows and calves are separated by a fence but can still see, hear, and smell one another — and preferably also have nose-to-nose contact.

A Saskatchewan veterinarian who uses fenceline weaning with his own cattle, reports that calves weaned using low-stress practices have a treatment rate of only five to 10 per cent instead of the 25 to 30 per cent he sees in abruptly weaned calves.

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Fenceline weaning requires a strong-enough fence to keep calves and cows apart so four to six strands of barbed wire or page wire — or two to three strands of electric fencing (if calves are familiar with electric fences) — is recommended. Another option is to use a set of corrals on pasture, locking cows in and leaving the calves in the familiar environment. Fenceline weaning should last a minimum of three days.

Other low-stress weaning techniques include two-stage weaning (using anti-suckling nose tags) and employing quiet handling methods. For more information, go to www.beefresearch.ca.

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