Early Weaning of Fall-Born Beef Calves: I. Preweaning Calf and Cow Performance

Abstract

Early weaning of fall-born beef calves (Bos taurus) can increase calf performance while maintaining cows in adequate body condition on less feed. Three hundred ninety-five Shorthorn × Angus × Hereford crossbred calves from 340 cows were used in a 5-yr study to examine the effects of early weaning on calf and cow performance. Calves were weaned at approximately 110 to 220 d of age. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in birth weight, early weaning weight, or rate of gain from birth to early weaning. Early-weaned calves were 44 lb heavier (P < 0.01) and 0.2 units higher (P < 0.01) in condition score than their normal-weaned counterparts at the time of normal weaning. Early-weaned calves gained 0.4 lb/d more (P < 0.01) than normal-weaned calves. At the time of early weaning, dams with normal-weaned calves tended to weigh more (P = 0.08) than dams with early-weaned calves. From early to normal weaning, dams with normal-weaned calves lost 0.3 lb/d more weight than dams with early weaned calves (P < 0.01). Dams with early-weaned calves had numerically greater (P = 0.12) condition scores than dams with normal-weaned calves. Early weaning may be advantageous in fall-calving beef herds.