Page 16 - MWC 09-9-2021s

Managing Early Weaned Calves By Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management

The Midwest Cattleman · September 9, 2021 · P16

Early weaning is typical- occurred, the cow, now with- other source of high-quality is a very digestible source of
ly defined as weaning before out the demands of lactation, nutrition needs to be provided protein and energy, available
calves are 150 days of age. can be maintained on poor if the same level of daily gain to the animal for bone and
In extreme cases beef calves quality forage and little to no is desired. Although young muscle growth, as opposed to
may be weaned at 45 days supplement. Higher quality beef calves begin eating solid being available as a nitrogen
of age, but more commonly feed, which may be in limit- food by 30 days of age, the source for the microbial pop-
early weaned calves are over ed supply, can be reserved for rumen is still small in the ulation in the rumen. Supple-
90 days of age. Early wean- the rapidly growing calf. young calf. Therefore, a nu- menting a protein source that
ing may be advantageous in Nutrition trient dense, highly digestible is not easily digested by the
times of drought, when cows Milk is a great source of diet with a fast passage rate microbes and is then avail-
are in a confinement system, nutrition for the young calf. will allow the calf to consume, able at the tissue level can
or as a body condition man- With the removal of milk in digest, and absorb the nutri- help support gain without
agement tool for very young the diet through weaning, an- ents needed. Diets containing the calves depositing fat in-
or old cows. Once weaning has residues or low-quality hay stead of lean growth. Distill-
which are often poorly digest- ers grains, a by-product of the
ed, slow the rate of passage ethanol industry is an exam-
through the digestive tract ple of a protein supplement
and therefore, limit intake, that is a good source of rumen
which in turn can limit gain. undegradable protein for the
A mature cow has a large young growing calf.
rumen and has the potential An example diet for a 300-
to consume enough low-qual- pound calf that would support
ity feed to meet her needs 2.0 pounds/day gain would
in most cases. A young calf be 3 pounds of dried distill-
needs to be able to eat small ers and 7 pounds of a 50:50
frequent meals, as the rumen blend of oat hay and alfalfa.
is so much smaller. Zinc and copper are very im-
Because milk bypasses portant minerals for boosting
the rumen and goes straight immunity so providing a good
Photo credit Troy Walz to the abomasum via closure vitamin and trace mineral
of the esophageal groove, it package free choice or in a