Successful Weaning is a Planned Event: DVM Perspective

Weaning is a necessary management strategy to transition our calves from the cow herd to the next stage of production. If not handled appropriately, this transition can be stressful for young calves and ranchers. Preparing not only the cattle, but also the operation for weaning can greatly reduce the strain that can occur especially if the calves are going to be weaned and maintained on the operation. Weaning should be a planned strategy of the yearly herd cycle, rather than a spur of the moment event. The goals are to prepare the calf to minimize health issues such as BRD (Bovine Respiratory Disease) after weaning, as well as prepare them for a new environment without their mother.

Health Planning:

Understanding the calf’s immune function during this time helps develop a plan. A calf’s immune system takes time to fully develop and may not be completely mature until 2 years of age. The intake of colostrum shortly after birth provides passive immunity through antibodies that provide immune protection early in life. Until 2 to 4 months of age, maternal antibodies from colostrum are the key players in the calf’s immune protection. These maternal antibodies play a role in how the young calves will respond to immune challenges such as vaccines. When these maternal antibodies start to decrease, it is a prime time to initiate a vaccine protocol to help boost the active immune protection of the calf. This period often coincides with typical “branding” or the first handling at 2-4 months of age.

Working with a local veterinarian can help make product selection during different periods of a calf’s life simple. While every calf may not fully respond to vaccines at branding, vaccination at that time does prime the immune system memory for a booster later in life. Vaccines to consider for branding-aged calves would be a multi-strained respiratory viral vaccine (IBR, BVD 1&2, BRSV, PI3), and a multi-strained clostridial (7-way or more). Once the calf is closer to weaning, planning a booster vaccination will help bolster the calf’s immune function prior to the stressors of weaning. The vaccine booster targets the same pathogens as the initial branding vaccination with the addition of respiratory bacterin vaccines against the bacteria that cause pneumonia and should be administered 3-4 weeks prior to weaning. Animal health procedures conducted prior to weaning will help ensure calf health through the transition of weaning. The booster vaccinations could be held until the day of weaning, but that offers yet another challenge that the calf must overcome post weaning. The aim is to have two rounds of vaccination prior to weaning.

Multiple stressors compounded on each other, and decreased health go hand in hand. Painful procedures such as castration, dehorning, and branding should be conducted well before the day of weaning, preferably in the first few months of life. Due to other constraints on an operation, it may not always be feasible. If initial vaccination and management procedures such as castration were not conducted early in life, they should be conducted 3-4 weeks prior to weaning. This will help spread the stressors out over time to limit the strain on the calf’s immune system. During this period of time, control of other stressors such as external parasites and internal parasites can be initiated. External parasites of concern are mostly flies during the late summer months. Internal parasite control should target gastrointestinal nematodes (worms) as well as coccidiosis during this stressful time.

Management Preparations to start planning:

• Consult with your local veterinarian to determine the best vaccines that fit your scenario. It’s also a great time to establish a treatment protocol if calves get sick. Do not wait until the last minute to have this discussion. Antibiotic product choice, and timeframes can all be discussed to be fully prepared for any anticipated health insults.
• Facilities are imperative if calves are to be weaned and maintained on the ranch. Fences, handling and feeding areas should all be inspected, and any routine maintenance be conducted prior to weaning.
• Developing a plan to mitigate inclement environmental concerns such as heat (or cold), mud (or dust) can be very helpful in ensuring overall health, performance, and welfare of these calves. Pen preparation, manure hauling, sunshade, wind-fences, and checking the water source are all potential control areas.
• Consider a soft weaning strategy to minimize stress. Fence-line or 2 stage weaning might be an option. Acclimation of calves to their new environment and feed can also be a way to minimize the stress. This would entail bringing cow/calf pairs into the weaning environment for several days then removing all the cows. This gives the opportunity for calves to clearly identify their new surroundings.
• Nutrition is key during weaning, whether onto pasture or into a drylot. Feedstuff inventory, feeding equipment maintenance, and a nutritional consultation should all be conducted prior to weaning to ensure reliable feed delivery, intake, and performance.
• Monitor the weather! Consider delaying weaning if the forecast predicts adverse weather events or sudden changes (large temperature fluctuations, moisture etc) that may impact calf comfort.