by Shelia Grobosky, BioZyme

Gather around the local coffee shop to visit with a longtime farmer or cattle producer, and topics of conversation will jump from the weather to news from the neighborhood, planting season, and on to the best days to wean calves. You will likely get as many opinions as there are coffee cups sitting on the table.

One of the great things about production agriculture is the multiple opinions about various management practices. Agriculture and cattle production are not one-size-fits-all professions. Depending on your herd size, available labor, operation goals and resources available, approaches to weaning likely differ.

With proper planning and preparation, you can reduce the stress for the calves, cows and you.

The best days to wean calves

The best days to wean calves depend on various factors, including management practices of the operation, nutritional status of the cow-calf pair, current market conditions and availability of forage resources. Old-timers around the coffee shop might even suggest following signs of the moon or reading the Farmers’ Almanac. Here are some general guidelines to consider.

Weather conditions — Weather conditions should always be considered when planning the timing of weaning. Extreme weather, such as hot and dry conditions or cold and wet conditions, can increase stress on newly weaned calves. Therefore, avoid weaning during adverse weather whenever possible.

Health status — Calves should be weaned when they are healthy and free from any significant health issues. Weaning during periods of stress or illness can compromise the immune system and increase the risk of disease.

Chris Cassady, BioZyme director of beef technical sales, suggests giving calves their proper vaccinations or vaccine boosters about a month prior to weaning. Because each geographic location and situation is slightly different, consult with your veterinarian on what your calves need.

Most pharmaceuticals offer a seven-way or five-way vaccine to treat multiple bugs. Ensure calves are vaccinated and in good health before weaning to reduce stress and disease risk. It is imperative to keep young calves as healthy as possible prior to weaning.

“If you wait until weaning to vaccinate, that will cause extra stress on the calves.”
— Chris Cassady

“If you wait until weaning to vaccinate, that will cause extra stress on the calves. Their immune system is going to be compromised in the first place, and the extra stress will impact the effectiveness of the vaccine, so plan ahead,” Cassady says.

Age of calves — Calves are typically weaned when they are around 6 to 8 months old. By this age they have developed sufficiently to transition from a diet consisting primarily of milk to one based on forage and supplemental feed.

However, some research shows that spring-born calves can eat and digest specific native grasses at just 45 days old. Weaning calves this early should only be done in rare cases where the cows are thin and you want them to breed back with the rest of their contemporaries.

Market conditions — If you are not retaining ownership, the current market could influence when you decide to wean. As fall-weaned calves continue to jump in price, you might decide to wean a little earlier rather than later. Recently, our team saw 550-pound (lb.) steers bringing $3.60 per lb. If you can bring in nearly $2,000 for a freshly weaned calf, chances are, you are going to wean and take advantage of the market conditions.

Forage availability and nutritional status — Calves should be weaned when they are consuming enough solid feed to meet their nutritional needs without relying heavily on milk from the dam. They should be eating a significant amount of forage or supplemental feed and showing independence from the cow.

Weaning is often timed to coincide with the availability of ample forage resources. This ensures that calves have access to nutritious feed to support their growth and development after weaning.

Calves also need access to quality minerals found in Gain Smart^®, a line of vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds. Research shows that calves that are fed just 4 ounces (oz.) of AO-Biotics^® Amaferm^® daily are likely to increase gains by ¼ lb. per day. More efficient gains lead to faster-gaining, healthier calves.

Follow the moon — Some cattle producers will follow the signs of the moon — and not just for weaning. They also follow moon signs for shearing cows, vaccinating and other jobs on their operation.

Seasoned producers will tell you that the best days to wean calves are when the moon is in the signs of Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius or Pisces. These signs are said to rule the thighs, knees, ankles and feet.

Go with the Farmers’ Almanac — The  has been guiding agriculturalists for more than a century. Today, cattle producers still claim that if the Farmers’ Almanac lists a date for weaning, you need to trust it. They claim on those dates, calves will wean off healthier, with less stress and continue to grow better. The best most immediate dates to wean include:

• June 28, 2024,
• July 25, 2024, and
• July 30, 2024.

No matter how you decide your weaning day, the key is to ensure the health and well-being of both the cow and the calf while aligning with your operational needs.

Editor’s note: Adapted from a news release provided by BioZyme. Shelia Grobosky is the content and public relations administrator for BioZyme. For more information visit www.gainsmart.com.