backhoeboogie":arxzx535 said:No one has mentioned the almanac. No matter how I wean or which pasture they are at during that time, I use the alamnac and ensure the signs are right for weaning before I attempt it.
tncattle":zp60m4fm said:backhoeboogie":zp60m4fm said:No one has mentioned the almanac. No matter how I wean or which pasture they are at during that time, I use the alamnac and ensure the signs are right for weaning before I attempt it.
I should know but don't, what are the right signs?
Dave":1wtn2o6f said:In Sept all of the cattle are on pasture about 7 miles from the house. I gather and sort off the calves. The calves are hauled home. I put them in a corral with three water troughs. I feed haylage and right away give them 5 pounds a day of Puriena Pre-Con 5. I swear by that Pre-Con. They go right to eating it. I have never had one not eat it. By day three there is little to no bawling going on. At about day 5 or 6 I open the gate and they go out into what is the cows winter sacrifice area. It is several acres which was planted to oats in the late spring. By that time they are really trained on the grain so they will come back to the bunk to eat. At about day 12 -14 I switch off the Pre-Con to a cheaper grain. I sell calves about 30 days post wean. Following this plan I have never had the weight loss that I hear others complain about at weaning. I have test weighed some calves at weaning and 30 days later. Very few showed a wieght loss and most gained. They average about 25 pound gain in those 30 days.
tncattle":2rjif5zy said:Do you find the cost of the feed to be worth it when you put a pencil to it?
Roadapple":zebsidgs said:I put a Quiet Wean nose flap in and put them right back with mama. No stress, stay on feed, keep gaining, no bawling. Leave them in for a week, take them out, and stick them in a lot next to mama, and job is done, with out any problems. Out of 55, maybe 1 or 2 will lose their tag or learn to turn their head sideways to nurse, but does'nt present a problem when separated. And I've never had to teach a 7 mo. old calf how to eat out of a bunk. Put some feed in the bunk, and calves being curious and seeing what you're doing, come almost immediately to nose around and take a lick and start eating. But I raise Braunvieh, so maybe their just smarter than the average calf.