How to Manage the Health of Early Weaned Beef Calves

When there's not enough food due to a drought, farmers can use early weaning to help their animals. This means stopping milk for mother cows and reducing what they eat. It's important to make sure the mother cows are at a good weight before they have babies next year.

Taking care of young animals that are weaned early needs special attention. They're smaller and younger than usual. Doing things like removing horns and castrating them early helps them heal better and makes weaning easier. Also, the place where they stay needs to be just right—neither too wet nor too dry—so they stay healthy.

Here are some tips for managing the health of early-weaned calves:

• Plan the Weaning Process Carefully: Select the appropriate time for weaning, considering the season and other factors. Gradually introduce creep feed and water to ease the transition.

• Provide a Clean and Dry Environment: A clean and dry environment reduces the risk of disease transmission and supports calf health.

• Vaccinate Against Common Diseases: Proper vaccination safeguards the calves from prevalent diseases, contributing to their overall well-being.

• Implement Regular Deworming: Regular deworming protocols help manage parasites and ensure calf health.

• Handle Calves Gently: Minimize stress by adopting gentle handling practices, which positively impact calf stress levels.

Young calves eat differently and need special food before weaning. Talking to people who know about animal nutrition helps with feeding. Even though weaning early lets the mom cows use the fields longer, the calves still need good food.

Taking care of their health means working with animal doctors for the right shots at the right times. Sometimes, the medicine needs to be in their nose instead of a shot. The main health problems are breathing issues and certain diseases. The shots they need are different.

Taking care of young animals when weaning needs help from experts. Doing things the right way keeps early-weaned beef calves growing well and staying healthy.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-diane-kuhl