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Questions about weaning and running calves together
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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 640277" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>Based on my limited experience, you want to be careful not to leave the calves on the cows for too long. Nursing a 550-600 lb calf takes a lot out of a cow who should also have a new calf growing inside her. I went 7 months from first calf to weaning all last year and it was too long for the better cows. It will be 6 months from first calf to weaning this coming year.</p><p></p><p>Also based on limited experience, I would say that no bull calf should still be a bull after weaning day unless you are planning to and prepared to raise him as a breeding bull.</p><p></p><p>As far as when to castrate, there are different thoughts on this and really no general agreement. Any time from birth to weaning has advantages and disadvantages. Personally I left the bull calves whole until about July (4 months old avg). Partially because I am not there at birth, partially because there "may" be some early developmental advantage (I know, this is arguable), but mostly for health reasons. I have the vet cut the bull calves during the summer herd workup in early July and they can heal up on clean, green grass. In a week or 10 days they are back to frisky calves - and you are sure there are no misses. Just count to two.</p><p></p><p>There are also no further issues leaving new steers and heifers together with the cows and bull until weaning time. jmho.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 640277, member: 7509"] Based on my limited experience, you want to be careful not to leave the calves on the cows for too long. Nursing a 550-600 lb calf takes a lot out of a cow who should also have a new calf growing inside her. I went 7 months from first calf to weaning all last year and it was too long for the better cows. It will be 6 months from first calf to weaning this coming year. Also based on limited experience, I would say that no bull calf should still be a bull after weaning day unless you are planning to and prepared to raise him as a breeding bull. As far as when to castrate, there are different thoughts on this and really no general agreement. Any time from birth to weaning has advantages and disadvantages. Personally I left the bull calves whole until about July (4 months old avg). Partially because I am not there at birth, partially because there "may" be some early developmental advantage (I know, this is arguable), but mostly for health reasons. I have the vet cut the bull calves during the summer herd workup in early July and they can heal up on clean, green grass. In a week or 10 days they are back to frisky calves - and you are sure there are no misses. Just count to two. There are also no further issues leaving new steers and heifers together with the cows and bull until weaning time. jmho. [/QUOTE]
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