Management for Weaning Healthy, Marketable Calves

Clell V. Bagley DVM, Utah State University

Abstract

Weaning is an extremely stressful time for beef calves and involves the potential for severe economic loss. The most common problems usually involve respiratory and/or digestive diseases. Weaned calves should be retained for 3–6 weeks after weaning. Some cow/calf operations do not have the feed and facilities to effectively manage newly weaned calves. In this case, arrangements should be made to move these calves to a backgrounding operation immediately after weaning for that 3–6 week period of adaptation.