Weaning season may be the overlooked 60 days

A lot of the important things done on a ranch happen in a tight window of just a month or two. Breeding season, for instance, which translates to calving season. And sales season. 

There’s another 60-day ranch season that might be the most overlooked, thinks veterinarian Dave Sjeklocha: the preconditioning window from calf weaning day to sale day. 

Calves get weaned, worked, vaccinated, bunk-broke, introduced to grain, and prepped for their next owner. That time window can make or break your year, he thinks, and you’ll be rewarded if you get it right.

Sjeklocha has observed this overlooked season growing up on his family’s farm, riding feedlot pens for a while, and then becoming a veterinarian in a private cattle practice. He’s watched thousands of calves get on and off trucks at sale barns and feedlots, and usually knows why some thrive and some don’t. He also knows what cattle buyers look for in new calves.

Now a senior account manager for Merck Animal Health, Sjeklocha is still helping producers get calves transitioned for their next home. 

Weaning day 

It starts with the actual weaning system. To make it go as smoothly as possible, Sjeklocha likes fence line weaning when possible. The cows and their calves are put directly next to each other on opposite sides of a fence for a few days. They can see each other, which may be calming for both cows and calves.

“It has to be a really sturdy fence, and in good repair,” he says. “The cows especially are going to try to get back together. My favorite system is to include an electric fence on both sides to prevent any physical contact through the fence.”

He’s not opposed to leaving a docile cow or two with a group of newly weaned calves for another calming influence. She may help them discover the feed bunk or water trough if they’ve never seen one before. The weaning process should be over in less than a week.

Working calves 

For Sjeklocha, the word “calm” is his favorite when it comes to working with weaned calves.

“They’re easily spooked by quick movements and loud noise,” he says. “If a calf jumps on a metal feed bunk, that’s noisy. It will spook the entire group.”

This probably also means keeping dogs away for a while, especially if the calves aren’t used to dogs, Sjeklocha adds. If you use herding dogs, give plenty of time for acclimation.

And if you use tractors or trucks to deliver feed, throttle back for at least a few days to limit the noise.

“Make sure all your employees know your rules about calmness in working around these calves,” Sjeklocha says. “All your hard work on calming cattle can be ruined in an instant if you don’t have everyone on the same page.”

Bunk training 

It should start immediately at weaning. “I like starting calves on a long-stem fine grass hay,” Sjeklocha says. ”It’s what they’ve been used to on pasture up to that point in their lives, and it will attract them first.”

Within a day or two, you’ll want to introduce calves to either a commercial feed, or a grain-based feed you make yourself. Sjeklocha likes putting the grain over the top of the hay. “The hay will attract them first, then they’ll get a taste of the grain. This is the place for a little molasses or something that attracts them.

“It’s a good sign when they start to line up at the bunk when they hear the feed tractor coming.”

Castrate and implant

If the weaned calves aren’t castrated, that needs to be done as soon as possible to allow time to heal before sale day. “But to be honest,” says Sjeklocha, “they should be castrated back at pasture turnout time (for spring-calving herds). It’s so much easier on them, and contrary to what you may have heard, there’s no growth advantage to leaving them bulls.”

Sjeklocha says you should consider giving calves a growth promotant implant (if they are not going to be part of a natural meat program). In fact he likes to give them an implant at grass turnout time, then another after weaning if you are going to own the calves for at least 45 days to get the full benefit. The first implant will add 20 to 25 pounds to weaning weight, and the second could add that much more to sale weight. 

“It’s a proven technology that will make you money. Just follow the appropriate implant rules,” he says.

Health procedures

Hopefully, says Sjeklocha, the calves got colostrum at birth, and then you have a good vaccination program ahead of weaning. After weaning, they’ll need appropriate boosters. Your local veterinarian is your best helper on vaccine choices. 

“Parasite control, both internal and external, is a good practice on calves after weaning,” he adds. “Collect some fecal samples and have your veterinarian identify worms, and treat accordingly.”

Why 60 days? 

It’s a good number for getting the calves ready for sale, but there’s nothing magic about it, says Sjeklocha. “Some of the special preconditioning designations (Merck has one called PrimeVAC) require calves to have been weaned a minimum of 45 days before sale, and that’s the minimum for me to consider calves preconditioned, too. Longer is usually even better. It really depends on your system and what you have for available feed supplies.”

Daily gains of 1.5 to 2 pounds per day during this period is a good goal, he says. “If you feed them to gain 3 or 4 pounds per day, they can get too fleshy, and that could hurt you on sale day.” 

Spot problems

Most people know the common symptoms of sick calves: Droopy ears, lowered head, snotty nose, failure to come to the bunk. “But really good pen riders can spot sick calves before any of these common symptoms,” says Sjeklocha. “They know to watch all of their behavior. For instance, some sick calves will try to hide their sickness by lining up at the bunk, but then they don’t actually eat.”

If you’re good at working with calves and they come to trust you, some sick calves will actually seek you out, he adds. Pay attention to what they’re telling you.

Stick with it

Sjeklocha has seen producers upgrade their calf weaning and preconditioning practices, then be disappointed with the results on sale day. “Stick with it,” he advises. “It takes a while to build a reputation. Buyers will get to know your program and your cattle and your management. Then, you’ll see results.”