With pasture and feed supplies still tight across the state, early weaning could be a smart management strategy for local cattle producers, reducing feed costs and keeping valuable animals in good condition.
“Weaning a calf early is the best way to reduce the amount and quality of feed needed for both the calf and the cow,” senior lands services officer (livestock), Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Brett Littler said.
“A lactating cow requires approximately 60 per cent more feed than a dry cow to maintain body weight, and feed quality needs to be significantly higher for a lactating cow.
“Weaning calves early, especially when feed is short, will also improve cow fertility, increasing her likelihood of getting back in calf at joining.
“Whichever way you calculate it, it’s very inefficient to try to feed a calf through a cow.
“It is always cheaper and better to feed them separately rather than together.”
Last autumn, Molong farmer James Morse weaned calves early, as he had done in previous droughts, and he said the strategy had been effective.
“I think this has been a huge success, and we are now keeping some of those early weaned calves in a feedlot situation to take them through to slaughter weight, which will give us some much needed cash flow,” Mr Morse said.
“If you split a cow and calf, you need a lot less feed to maintain their condition.”
Mr Littler advises early weaned calves should be split into even groups based on weight and size.
A vaccination program should be implemented.
