Growing Beef Newsletter
July 2026, Volume 17, Issue 1
Early weaning practices and management
Russ Euken, ISU extension livestock specialist
Cow-calf producers typically wean calves at 180-240 days of age. Calves can be weaned earlier, and typically, if feed/pasture is short, early weaning saves forage and can benefit both the cow and calf with good management. Weaning at any age stresses the calf, and having facilities, nutrition, and overall management to reduce stress and related effects are needed.
Facilities
Getting weaned calves acclimated to an unfamiliar environment can be a challenge. Different weaning methods can help reduce stress, but making sure calves eat, drink, and stay healthy at weaning is key. Facility planning can help. Make sure small calves can reach over the edge and get to the bottom of the bunk. Building a temporary earth ramp may be needed for stationary bunks. Temporary movable bunks or feed troughs may also work for small calves if existing bunks do not. If using movable bunks arranging them perpendicular to fence lines may help as calves walk the fenceline. Provide enough space for all calves to eat at same time, a foot per head is a minimum. Letting cows and calves have access to the area where calves will be weaned before weaning, may help acclimate the calves at weaning. During the weaning period, lot space should be around 50-60 sq ft. per head to minimize calf movement and have water and feed closer to the calf.
Similar to feed bunks, make sure small calves can easily reach the water source. Providing access to an open water source like a tank versus a single hole automatic waterer for several calves to drink at one time can help water intake. Water intake is critically important. Simply put, if cattle don’t drink, they don’t eat and are much more likely to get sick. Make sure that tanks are clean and that the calves can find the water. Letting tanks run over for a day or two might help, especially for calves not used to the water source.
Controlling dust in an earth lot during dry periods can be a significant challenge but will help prevent eye and respiratory issues. Some options include keeping group sizes small to minimize dust. Reducing pen size in earth lots also can help reduce dust from calf traffic. Bedding the pens can also help, as well as sprinkling the pen surface with water.
During hot weather make sure shade is available for calves and well-ventilated shelter during rainy or damp periods.
Good fences for a weaning area are necessary. Smaller early weaned calves may be able to slip through areas that larger calves could not. Using wire panels along fences, fenceline bunks, or waterers may be necessary.
Nutrition
There are different feeds and feeding methods that can be used but in general, use highly palatable, easily digestible, nutrient dense feeds. With low intake and high nutrient need calves need a nutrient dense feed. Even though it is not nutrient dense, providing long stem hay in the bunk may help to get calves to come to the bunk as the hay may be a more familiar feed. Use high quality grass hay that was harvested before maturity and has no spoilage. After calves are consuming hay, putting a small amount of grain mix or concentrate starting at .5% of body weight in the bottom of the bunk with hay on top is a customary practice to get more nutrients to the calf. Small calves need natural, rumen undegradable protein sources like soybean meal, distillers’ grains, or corn gluten feed to supply the protein requirement of the small calf. A 16-17 percent crude protein level is typical for small calves. Gradually increase the grain mix or concentrate to 1.5 % of body weight over a 10 day to 2-week period as calves consume more. Clean the bunks if feed is left over before feeding again. Wait to introduce wet or fermented feeds like silages until calves are consuming the concentrate at 1.5%-2% of body weight. If calves have been introduced to grain through creep feed it makes starting them on feed after weaning easier. If you are purchasing early weaned calves, knowing the nutrition program prior to purchase can help.
Health
A good preventative health plan including vaccination should be planned in consultation with your veterinarian before weaning. Vaccinations should probably be completed at 3-4 weeks prior to weaning, so planning is important. On very young, weaned calves consider with your veterinarian any potential maternal antibody interference with the vaccine. In addition, discuss what disease issues are most important to manage through vaccination, vaccination methods, and immune response during the added stress of weaning. Plan for facilities to treat and possibly isolate sick calves if needed. Again, if purchasing early weaned calves know health and vaccination history is helpful.
Summary
Planning for facility needs, feeding programs and health is always important at weaning and for early weaned calves, extra planning and management is needed.
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