Calf Weaning Strategies
Weaning is a make-or-break milestone where your herd’s health, nutrition and marketing plans must align. A proactive weaning strategy helps calves transition smoothly to feed while keeping weight gains and immune systems strong for the months ahead. Explore our resource hub for expert-backed advice to minimize stress on your calves — and your bottom line.
Drovers webinar
The Biggest Weaning Mistake? Having No Plan at All
From body condition to vaccine timing, a roundtable of experts breaks down how to set calves up for success — and the pitfalls that derail it.
Oklahoma State’s Paul Beck explains how to capture the hidden genetic value of your calves through weaning, health protocols and smart marketing.
Early weaning is a vital tool for saving pasture and cow body condition, but stacking heat stress on top of weaning stress can be a disaster. Here is how to plan your approach.
Dr. Tim Parks explains why vaccination is only one piece of a successful preconditioning program, and how nutrition, parasite control and low-stress management can improve calf health and profitability.
Reduce postweaning setbacks and boost immunity with these practical herd management and feed bunk tips.
Minimize treatment costs and prevent fatalities by spacing out stressors, optimizing nutrition and using the “Rule of Three.”
OSU Extension Veterinarian Dr. Rosslyn Biggs explains why keeping cows and calves in sight during weaning beats the “cold turkey” approach for weight retention and lower stress.
By pairing an efficient chute routine with a bovine-appeasing substance, a Missouri cattle operation has significantly reduced fence-walking and stress-related sickness.
From body condition to vaccine timing, a roundtable of experts breaks down how to set calves up for success — and the pitfalls that derail it.
An Oklahoma State University study reveals a surprising “dead zone” for 45-to-59-day weaning premiums, pushing the case for a 60-day minimum.
Weaning success isn’t just about weaning day. A full calendar of nutrition, water access and stress management can protect your bottom line.
Analyzing data from more than 860,000 calves, Merck Animal Health and Kansas State University show how preconditioning and strategic implanting maximize auction revenue.
Early-weaning reduces herd forage needs and opens new marketing opportunities. Learn how to manage calf health and nutrition in hot weather.
Early weaning can save grass and body condition — but push calves too young and you create pot‑bellied orphans instead of profitable feeders or replacements.
As drought limits forage quality and availability, soybean hulls offer producers a byproduct feed with near-corn energy value — here’s how to use them correctly.
The weaned calf is currently an expensive commodity whose health and growth should not be taken lightly.
From body condition scores to mineral needs, K-State’s Jason Warner shares the top 10 management practices producers should be mindful of in October.
Iowa Beef Center’s Garland Dahlke shares what is key to a newly weaned calf’s diet.
Texas veterinarian, backgrounder and cow-calf producer Jared Ranly discusses strategies for weaning time that benefits both the cow-calf producer and stocker.
While today’s cattle prices provide producers an incredible profit, it’s important for producers not to become complacent in day-to-day management and forget the weaning strategies that keep cow herds profitable.
Specialists share strategies for evaluating herd performance following weaning and pregnancy check.
Preconditioning calf health programs prepare calves for better performance as they move through the system. That improved performance is measured in lower death loss, fewer health issues and better gain.
Weaning and marketing involve many potential stressors that can negatively affect beef calves. Consider these preconditioning strategies to optimize health and performance.
A proactive management plan including early preparation and close monitoring is key to a stress-free, healthy weaning time.
K-State veterinarians discuss a Midwest cow-calf ranch that has a problem with bovine respiratory disease when calves should be the healthiest.
Four beef cattle specialists share tips to help producers provide good nutrition at weaning.
Here are three options producers can consider when weaning calves.
No one time fits all, so producers should consider several factors when determining when to calve.