Weaning a calf

[inyati13]

I have a 5 month old simangus calf that probably already weighs 500 pounds. The steer has been eating grass and beef mix for at least 3 months. He is out of schedule with my other calves and I want to wean him and market him in the next two months. I have him with an 8 month old replacement heifer for company. I am using fenceline weaning which I find to be low stress. My cattleman friend gave strong advice that I should not wean this early. He said it was not good for the mother (her first calf). I would like to hear why this could be detrimental to the mother!

 

[Anonymous]

It won't hurt her a bit but will help her bounce back quicker

 

[dun]

It won't hurt her a but but will help her bounce back quicker

What hook said.

 

[inyati13]

Thanks. My friend often gives me advice because that is the way he has been doing it for a long, long time. He says it so firmly sometimes that I need to get another opinion for fear that he may be right even though he has no substantive basis. Another example was a cow I wanted to breed back as soon as she came in after her calf was born. He was firm that I wait 60 days before putting her with the bull. He could not give me a biological reason.

 

[Anonymous]

He was right for that second one. It's better for the cow

 

[highgrit]

Why, so the bull can tear the fence down getting to her.

 

[Anonymous]

If you don't want your calving season moving up every year you'll wait. If your bull is tearing down fences you need to rethink things anyway

 

[highgrit]

We keep the bulls with the cows year round and someone checks the cows everyday. Can't see the need for a breeding season in the south with a small herd. If you can't make a pot load why have a breeding season in the south??

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Nothing wrong with year round breeding if it's working for you.

 

[Bigfoot]

I wean all first calf hiefers early. I think the rest does them good.

 

[dun]

No specific breeding/calving season seems like it would be a lot harder the manage vacinations, wormings, weaning etc then it would be worth

 

[greybeard]

I wean all first calf hiefers early. I think the rest does them good.

Not sure how much rest they actually get walking the fences bawlin for their calf 24 hrs a day--

 

[dun]

I wean all first calf hiefers early. I think the rest does them good.

Not sure how much rest they actually get walking the fences bawlin for their calf 24 hrs a day--

That;s what fencline weaning reduces. After about 2 days 3 at the most the calves never make a peep and neither do the cows.

 

[dieselbeef]

500 lbs at 5 month dont need no criticism from here...must be doin somethin right

 

[jerry27150]

why don't you just sell him when ready right off his mama. some times they sell the best