The weaning period brings a lot of change for calves.
As well as changing the main feed source from liquid milk to solid feed, calves can also experience a change to their social group and farm they are reared on. This can mean calves can be exposed to a lot of stress.
Here are some approaches to reduce stress so calves thrive through weaning.
Changing the diet
To successfully move from liquid (milk) feed to a pasture-based feed, calves need a fully adapted rumen to get sufficient nutrients to grow to their full potential. If not, calves will suffer a weaning check. It’s a great idea to weigh calves before weaning (generally weaning occurs at >70 kg for Jerseys, >80kg for crossbreds, and > 90kg for Friesians), then track their weights after weaning too.
If they are not meeting their daily gain targets a week after weaning, they need extra help (meal, milk or both). It’s much easier to help them at this stage than to try to play catch-up when they are missing their weight-for-age targets.
Make diet changes slowly
The rumen and gut bugs need to adapt. Planning and making diet changes slowly over time, so the calves’ rumen adapts to weaning, is key.
Calves generally need to be eating at least 1kg of quality meal or 2kg of quality pasture before milk feeding can stop.
To get calves eating sufficient meal and pasture at weaning, we need to step the amount of milk down beforehand.
For calves on 6-8 litres of milk a day, this takes 2-3 weeks. The volume of milk is reduced by around 20% every 4-5 days. This gives the calf time to adapt to the change, developing the rumen and rumen microbes to rely less on milk feed as solid feed increases. For calves on low-volume milk systems (4 litres), the milk offered should be reduced over approximately a week.
Make one change at a time
To reduce stress, making one change at a time is a good idea. Get calves weaned before changing their social groups. Establish their social groups before being transported if they are being moved to a grazier.
Optimise health
Ensure calf housing is warm and dry, with bedding topped up regularly if it starts getting wet. This reduces stress and allows more energy to be directed to growth.
Once calves are eating pasture, they are exposed to parasites, including lungworm. Before calving, graze paddocks with older stock to reduce the worm burden calves are exposed to. Talk to your vet about parasite control.
Be sure calves have access to shelter when they are moved to pasture feeding.
If you’ve been feeding milk or meal with a coccidiostat in it, monitor your calves as there will be an increased risk of coccidiosis as you wean off it.
Talk to your local Farm Source team member or on-farm advisory team for any calf weaning questions you have.