Weaning

Weaning is a stressful time for calves, lambs and kids, and their dams. 

Minimising stress levels around the time of weaning will improve the health of livestock after weaning and will reduce production loss and the potential for injury. 

Weaning helps ensure weaned calves, lambs and kids are less frightened of humans. Animals that are less frightened of humans adapt better to periods of drought feeding or to feedlots. This is important to reduce subsequent stress during handling and transport, reducing the risk of high pH and dark-cutting meat.

Reduce the stress of weaning by:

• joining cows, ewes and does to ensure a well-defined calving, lambing or kidding window to reduce age ranges at weaning
• maintaining an adequate body condition through good nutritional management
• feeding lambs at least four times with their mothers before weaning (imprint feeding)
• using low stress stock handling
• selecting paddocks and yards that are securely fenced
• ensuring high quality pastures are available for both weaners and their mothers
• keeping calves, lambs and kids out of sight and hearing range of their dams immediately after weaning
• ensuring parasite control is adequate
• drafting and managing calves, lambs and kids according to sex, size and behaviour (this reduces bullying behaviour and enables allocation of small animals to the best pasture and supplementary feed if required).

Early weaning

Early weaning is a management practice that can help improve throughput of calves, lambs and kids. It is also useful during periods of drought and can help in some disease control programs.

Early weaning enables breeding cows, ewes and does to regain condition faster, resulting in higher conception rates at the next joining.

Information on early weaning calves in southern Australia is available in MLA's More Beef from Pastures the producer's manual (Module 6: Weaner throughput). Information on early weaning lambs in available in Making More From Sheep manual (Module 10: Wean more lambs).

Yard weaning calves

Yard weaning calves for 5-7 days is a simple and effective procedure that can increase cattle productivity, especially if cattle will be finished in feedlots.

Weaning is a critical learning time for young cattle. Cattle that are yard weaned are more familiar with stock yards, water troughs, feeding routines and people. Yard weaned calves also have greater social bonds between individuals. While in the yards, individual temperament can be assessed and flighty (shy) cattle can be identified for removal or special treatment.

Yard weaned cattle are also less susceptible to Bovine respiratory disease if finished in feedlots.

Publications and resources   

• MLA Tips & Tools: Yard weaning methods for preparing feeder cattle 
• MLA's Weaner management in northern beef herds - an introduction
• MLA’s Weaner management in northern beef herds
• Productivity and profitability webinar: The best age to wean prime lambs 
• Productivity and profitability webinar: Feeding weaner cattle for production or maintenance