Content
It is quite difficult to wean a calf from a cow. This is a stressful process for both the livestock and their owner. It is worth considering traditional and unusual weaning methods that can be implemented in home and large-scale farm settings.
When to wean a calf from a cow
The owner of the animal chooses the time for weaning the calf from its mother independently in the time interval between 3-10 months after its birth. Most farmers begin weaning the animal around day 205, when it is 6 months old. However, time intervals are not so important. The main indicator is weight: it must be at least 60 kg.
Preparing calves for weaning
When preparing for weaning in advance, the following important nuances should be taken into account:
- It is advisable to perform dehorning and, if necessary, castration while the calf is still accustomed to its mother. These procedures cause him severe stress, which can be stabilized by the immediate presence of the cow nearby.But if traumatic operations are carried out during the weaning period, this can aggravate the animal’s condition and lead to rapid weight loss or various diseases.
- So that the calves can get used to the new environment, a couple of weeks before the expected separation from their mother, they can be given a separate, fenced pasture. If it is not possible to allocate a whole pasture, you can assign a separate pasture for the calves. Be sure to take care of a good fence for this area. Also, this area must be clean, because dirt and dust often provoke various respiratory diseases in fragile calves, including pneumonia - one of the most popular health disorders after children are weaned from their mother.
- Preparation. Before separating a cow and calf, a number of preliminary preparation measures are carried out. During this period, the baby is taught to properly eat from the feeder and drink from the trough. These skills will become a priority when he independently fights for a place near the drinking trough with assertive and mature cows.
Calves should be fed with the following healthy preparatory products:
- cereal silage - corn, wheat, oats or sorghum;
- legumes;
- concentrated protein.
When purchasing a protein supplement, you need to carefully study its composition. It must not contain any animal products. They can cause signs of mad cow disease in maturing calves, especially those that will be used for milk. You also need to be careful about the cleanliness of the food. It should not contain dirt impurities, which can easily cause inflammation of the animal’s respiratory tract.
An important stage in calf preparation is vaccination and revaccination. The first injections are given to animals when they are still accustomed to their mother's milk. The procedure and frequency of revaccination are determined individually by veterinarians.
How to wean a calf from suckling a cow
After completing all the necessary measures to prepare for the stressful process, they begin directly to the weaning itself. Depending on the conditions and capabilities of the farmer, the following methods are used:
- traditional;
- natural;
- "through the fence";
- with a nose ring.
Separately, the method of weaning during artificial feeding should be studied, which can be psychologically difficult for the animal.
Traditional method
The traditional weaning method implies:
- Choosing the right day. It is advisable that it be quiet, warm and sunny weather. Such conditions will be more comfortable for animals than wind, rain and cold.
- Placing feed in a place accessible to cows.
- Gradual transfer of cows to other pens for a comfortable weaning process. For a large pen, you can move 1-2 animals per day.
- Closing the gate when the required number of cows have left the pen so that the calves remain inside. The tranquility and naturalness of the methods used play a huge role here. This way, the calves will not run away, since in most cases the cows leave the gate first and only then are their young ones following.
Natural method
The natural method is entirely based on the instincts and nature of the cows. This method does not involve human intervention, since in wild conditions, on unfenced pastures or on farms where extensive farming methods are practiced, the cow independently pushes away her already adult child. The natural shedding process occurs just before the cow calves a new calf.
The method has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is less stress, which in any case will be caused by human intervention in natural processes. The calf is not separated from the herd and remains with its family in a comfortable environment. Other pen members help him socialize, showing him how to eat silage, drink water and be independent from his mother.
The main disadvantage of the natural method is health complications in the cow, which does not receive a sufficient break between lactations and feeding calves. Ideally, she needs a significant period of time to restore her body shape and condition before the next calving. It is noted that cows that are separated from the calf earlier than the natural moment show better milk yield and gain weight faster.
Excommunication "Through the Fence"
To implement this method, calves and their mothers must first be prepared in accordance with veterinary programs, and then the recommendations from the “traditional” method must be followed. Here it is necessary to take into account one important feature - the pens must be adjacent so that the cow and the calf are in the zone of access to each other, to the point that they can sniff each other, but the calf does not have the opportunity to kiss the udder.
After this you need to wait a few days. As a rule, after 4-5 days the animals begin to lose interest in each other. Once they are finally separated, the cows can be placed in separate pens.
With a nose ring
Another method involves installing special rings in the calf's nose. You can do this yourself using a screwdriver or wrench to align and secure the spiked earring.
Similar rings are inserted into the noses of bulls. But unlike calves, they go with it all the time, and the cubs are removed 1-2 weeks after they have completely weaned themselves from milk feeding.
The cow herself pushes the calf away when it tries to take the udder, as the sharp thorns prick painfully. At the same time, with the ring, the animal can comfortably drink water, eat grass and stay close to its mother.
Artificial feeding method
Artificial feeding is a necessary measure when the calf cannot feed on its mother’s milk. Weaning from artificial feeding occurs according to the following algorithm:
- Psychological preparation of the farmer. With prolonged feeding “by hand,” a strong emotional connection is formed between the worker and the animal, even at the subconscious level.
- A weaning procedure is carried out for calves that were bottle fed at the age of 3-4 months.
- It is gradually necessary to dilute the milk provided with water, repeating the processes of natural deterioration in the quality of cow's milk, which occurs over time. The second option is more traumatic and requires a reduction in the number of servings per day, which can negatively affect the animal’s condition.
During the weaning process, it is necessary to ensure that the calf has a constant supply of clean water, food and mineral supplements.It is also advisable to move him to a well-maintained pasture where there is plenty of grass.
Veterinarian advice
Veterinarians advise the following:
- maintain cleanliness in the pens where animals are kept;
- constantly monitor the weight of calves - the main indicator of their physical health;
- when weaning, it is necessary to take care of a good fence that will prevent communication between the cow and the calf;
- the first 3-5 days the cow will desperately strive to return back to the calf, especially the first-time mother;
- minimize stressors to make weaning more comfortable.
Conclusion
You can wean a calf from a cow by following the advice of veterinarians. The main stage of weaning is the preparation of animals. To avoid negative consequences, the occurrence of stress factors should be prevented in every possible way, taking care of the well-being of animals.
