Cool nights, warm days, colorful leaves, spider webs, stick-tights and bawling calves. Fall is definitely here. It’s time to wean.
Weaning is stressful to cows, calves and caretakers. We do everything we can to make it easy on everyone.
First the calves have to be separated from the cows, loaded on trailers and hauled home from the pastures they spent their summer on. This is done as calmly and quietly as possible so no one including the caretakers lose it. It doesn’t always work out that way but we try.IMG_0961 Calves walking off the trailer.
The bawling mamas walk in and out of the pen where they last saw their calves for several days then they go back to grazing and totally forget they ever had a calf. Weaning the calf means the cow doesn’t have to give milk so she can gain weight on the good fall grass and go into winter in good shape. That makes the calf she is carrying healthier and lets her breed back early next summer.
The calves go in a pipe corral where they pace and bawl for three or four days. We have to sleep with the windows closed because it is so loud!
It’s a lot like sending a child off to kindergarten.
A crying calf or kindergartner, they are both unhappy that mom isn’t there and they’re frightened of all the new sights and sounds.
A bus/trailer ride, eating different food at a cafeteria table/feed bunk surrounded by kids/calves they don’t know, they have to come when the whistle/siren blows and they have to be vaccinated!
Just like kindergarten!
After the calves have settled down for 4 or 5 days we vaccinate them with a modified live IBR/BVD/PI3 with pasteurella and a combination blackleg/pinkeye. We also deworm with a pour-on. The calves will get a booster in about 21 days.
Within a week the calves are out in a big pasture, eating hay, coming to the call of the siren and very happy!
Now we can relax, too!
One last thing, don’t stress out about crying kindergarten children. That little boy in the picture that cried everyday for a week as he got on the bus to kindergarten, he is now a college professor. I think it’s safe to say he got over his fear of school!
Until next time.
Don’t forget to shut the gate!