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Questions about weaning and running calves together
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<blockquote data-quote="KNERSIE" data-source="post: 640717" data-attributes="member: 4353"><p>Generally the older the calves are at weaning the easier the weaning process and the slimmer the chance they'll try and go back to nursing.</p><p></p><p>SRBeef wrote:</p><p></p><p></p><p>SRBeef, I appreciate that not all environments are the same and that management need to adapt to that, but make an experiment with a few of your easier doing cows and wean their calves much later and observe the difference in how well the calves do after weaning and at what feed cost compared to thise weaned younger. </p><p></p><p>Just another thing to consider, if your cows are bred back and you know you'll be able to put alot of condition on them by grazing standing corn, why would a few lost lbs on the cow side be such a disaster considering what you lose on the cow you gain on the calves?</p><p></p><p>Its also a known fact that only the last trimester of gestation really takes extra nutrition for the pregnant cow, in a fixed calving season (not considering environmental issues) it effectively means that you need to have the calves weaned when the oldest calf is 9 months old, then the oldest foetus would be around 6 months.</p><p></p><p>If you wean when the oldest calf is 6 months, the youngest is likely only 4 months in the real world, although we strive for a 28 day calving season, it just never happens like that even in the most fertile herds. That 4 month old calf will need special care to properly grow out after weaning. This also means the oldest foetus is only 3 months and the youngest about a month. If your cows can't handle nursing a calf and growing a 1-3 month old foetus, you need to upgrade your genetics to become more in sync with your environment. In that case a bull with basically all trait leading EPDs like your young bull may very well be exactly what you DON'T need.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="KNERSIE, post: 640717, member: 4353"] Generally the older the calves are at weaning the easier the weaning process and the slimmer the chance they'll try and go back to nursing. SRBeef wrote: SRBeef, I appreciate that not all environments are the same and that management need to adapt to that, but make an experiment with a few of your easier doing cows and wean their calves much later and observe the difference in how well the calves do after weaning and at what feed cost compared to thise weaned younger. Just another thing to consider, if your cows are bred back and you know you'll be able to put alot of condition on them by grazing standing corn, why would a few lost lbs on the cow side be such a disaster considering what you lose on the cow you gain on the calves? Its also a known fact that only the last trimester of gestation really takes extra nutrition for the pregnant cow, in a fixed calving season (not considering environmental issues) it effectively means that you need to have the calves weaned when the oldest calf is 9 months old, then the oldest foetus would be around 6 months. If you wean when the oldest calf is 6 months, the youngest is likely only 4 months in the real world, although we strive for a 28 day calving season, it just never happens like that even in the most fertile herds. That 4 month old calf will need special care to properly grow out after weaning. This also means the oldest foetus is only 3 months and the youngest about a month. If your cows can't handle nursing a calf and growing a 1-3 month old foetus, you need to upgrade your genetics to become more in sync with your environment. In that case a bull with basically all trait leading EPDs like your young bull may very well be exactly what you DON'T need. [/QUOTE]
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