weaning stress

[farmguy]

I have discovered that when I wean calves and I am running cattle through the chute I run the cull cows in with the weaned calves for a couple weeks. These are usually old cows, no calf and calm. The effect of the old cows is amazing. The calves start eating grain almost immediately, this is new to them. My cows never see grain but they seem to remember their heifer days. Also no tearing from one end of the lot to another. Also they seem to stop bawling sooner. For what it's worth, farmguy.

 

[kenny thomas]

Not a bad idea. I usually have a Jersey steer I put in with calves to help them learn.

 

[boondocks]

Last couple years, we've been using the quiet wean flaps for 2 weeks, then remove the flaps and separate them out, with an "uncle" or two (steer) for company. Because of our cold snowy winters and expensive stock tank heating bill, we can't really run two herds thru the winter, so we re-unite them after about a month apart.