bobrammer
Well-known member
I'm brand new, so please laugh quietly to yourself. How do you determine when to wean calves and what is the best technique? I'm on 42 acres. Thanks!
BC":2rl5kl0p said:What is magical about weaning at 205 days. That was used to make adjustments so that you could compare a calf crop. If I have grass and the cows are in good shape, I leave the calves on their mothers. Goal is to weigh 700+ coming off the cow with no creep. That is the goal - 630 to 660 is more reality.
BC":3ermh3o0 said:What is magical about weaning at 205 days. That was used to make adjustments so that you could compare a calf crop. If I have grass and the cows are in good shape, I leave the calves on their mothers. Goal is to weigh 700+ coming off the cow with no creep. That is the goal - 630 to 660 is more reality.
Quit trying to make sense with this weaning thing!
MikeC":mjlsujrt said:Quit trying to make sense with this weaning thing!
How in the heck can you manage something that you cannot measure?
MikeC":24ae1kfb said:So you're saying averaging it is as good as measuring it?
A 600 lb. calf at 205 days would have a WDA of 2.92 lbs/day.
A 600 lb. calf at 145 days would have a WDA of 4.13 lbs/day.
Assuming you have a 60 day breeding season, and these two calves are in the "Average" you would be "Fooled" by nearly a nearly 50% difference!
I'm sorry, but your methods wouldn't be enough info for me.
MikeC":igzrpao4 said:Quit trying to make sense with this weaning thing!
How in the heck can you manage something that you cannot measure?