As we work through the hot, sultry “dog days” of summer, when perennial warm-season grasses can still look green even as their nutritional value declines, weaning calves now holds the potential to enhance the profitability and efficiency of cow-calf operations. Early weaning can improve the reproductive performance of cows while minimizing the impact on weaned calves when nutrition is managed appropriately.

We typically wean beef calves at approximately seven months of age. Early weaning beef calves (sometimes as young as two to three months of age) provide major benefits, including improved cow body condition, higher rebreeding rates, and relief for drought-stressed pastures. These benefits to the cow herd result from weaning, which stops lactation and immediately reduces the cow’s dietary energy and protein requirements by 15–20%. Accordingly, cows regain weight and improve body condition scores more quickly in preparation for the next calving season. Eliminating the suckling stimulus also triggers postpartum estrus and improves fertility/ pregnancy rates.

Because early weaning reduces grazing pressure, it is beneficial for pastures and forages. A dry cow eats 10% to 25% less forage than a lactating cow, significantly stretching limited grass inventories. Early weaning prevents overgrazing during flash droughts or summer slumps, protecting the long-term health of the land.

Young calves convert concentrated feed into body weight more efficiently than mature cows convert poor grass into milk. Calves placed on a high-quality growing ration can achieve excellent growth rates often exceeding what they would have done at the side of the cow. Early weaned calves learn to eat palatable rations quickly. Stressful procedures such as castration and dehorning should be performed well before early weaning. Health problems when calves are weaned and kept on the ranch have been minimal. If at all possible, early weaned calves should be fence-line weaned, managed on the ranch, or managed with only a short haul for some period after weaning.

Article written by - Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

For more information, please contact the local K-State Extension Office.

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