Maximizing wean weight through calf brain size

[Brute 23]

I have a lot more things to worry about than this. I sure as hell am not going to take a big loss on a cow just because another calf nurses from the back end. If it effects her calf size, it will show up soon enough and she will be culled then.

A few weeks back while skimming my cattle records I noticed a note saying a cow was letting another cow nurse her. She was a heifer at the time. I had moved the heifer to another place and promptly forgot about it. The heifer developed into one of top cows in my herd and I never saw her have that problem again.

Now years before I had a heifer that would nurse herself. She didn't stay around long.

Maybe she was just experimenting?

 

[ClinchValley86]

I've got a 1st timer that lost her calf to pneumonia on day 5. Was planning to beef her then noticed she was still making milk. Sure enough she is letting at least 1 calf nurse, I'm thinking more than 1. Her dam would let anyone nurse too.

Interesting topic OP.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

If your herd is relatively poor milkers, a heavy milker willing to share can be a great asset.
But, that is masking your poor milkers.
I would prefer having all my cows unwilling to share, and, ALL my cows have ample milk supply to wean a "scale smasher".
IF you have good milking cows, you need to breed for growthy calves to utilize that milk.

 

[Travlr]

If your herd is relatively poor milkers, a heavy milker willing to share can be a great asset.
But, that is masking your poor milkers.
I would prefer having all my cows unwilling to share, and, ALL my cows have ample milk supply to wean a "scale smasher".
IF you have good milking cows, you need to breed for growthy calves to utilize that milk.

^^^THIS!!!^^^

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Question for some of you that cull for milk sharing. How much time and effort are you putting in to observing this behavior?

I have years of notes on calves stealing milk and which cows share. I also have hundreds and hundreds of weights on calves that show no real statistical difference in those calves weights. Looking at the numbers I have my take away is that I have good milking cows and good growing calves who just "share the teat" so to say.

 

[Brute 23]

If your herd is relatively poor milkers, a heavy milker willing to share can be a great asset.
But, that is masking your poor milkers.
I would prefer having all my cows unwilling to share, and, ALL my cows have ample milk supply to wean a "scale smasher".
IF you have good milking cows, you need to breed for growthy calves to utilize that milk.

You brought up a very good point. I made the mistake of buying a higher milk epd bull and putting him on Brangus or Braford type cows which already are big milk producers. Luckily, it was only 1.

After that I started paying more for better growth bulls. Imo, their calves are much more agressive milkers. It kind of makes sense because they have to really be on the milk to get the growth.