Page 15 - MWC 4-20-2023s

Early Weaning Can Work The Midwest Cattleman · April 20, 2023 · P15

By Rhonda Brooks
Months of extremely dry production conditions can
weather throughout the warrant removing the calf
Great Plains have many cow/ from the cow as early as 45-
calf producers there, and in days of age, says Glenn Selk,
some other areas as well, fac- OSU Extension emeritus an-
ing a low forage inventory imal scientist.
this spring. Body Condition Scores
If that scenario describes Improve Reproductive
what you are facing – es- Performance
pecially as spring turns to Selk cites an OSU study
summer – you may want to that shows early weaning of
consider early weaning of
spring-born calves, says Paul continued on page 19
Beck, Oklahoma State Uni-
versity (OSU) Extension beef
cattle nutrition specialist.
He notes it’s much harder
to maintain or add condition
on a cow that still has a calf
on her side. “A dry pregnant
cow in the second trimester
requires 37% less TDN and
13% less protein than when
she is in late lactation with
a calf. The dry pregnant cow
not only requires less energy
and protein, she also would
eat 20% less than the lactat-
ing cow,” Beck says in “Cow-
Calf Corner,” which is pub-
lished electronically.
While it’s not ideal, tough

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