Weaning reduces pasture loss, cow stress heading into winter

October 9, 2012  

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Now is the time for beef producers with spring-calving herds to complete weaning and consider calf marketing options, a Purdue Extension beef specialist says.


"Weaning helps stretch pasture resources, and longer grazing means using less harvested feed, such as hay or silage," Ron Lemenager said. "If we wean calves and take them off of pasture, we can reduce cow pasture consumption by 25 percent, as well as eliminate the calves' pasture intake and trampling losses associated with their hooves. Collectively, this should translate to a 30-40 percent stretching of pasture resources."


"Early weaning of spring-born calves allows cows to gain both weight and body condition when nutrient requirements are low and the environment is more friendly," he said.



"It makes sense to feed calves for 45 days and add weight to them if it's economically feasible," Lemenager said. "At current market prices, if calves can gain 2 pounds per day for less than $2 per day, or a cost of gain of $1 per pound, the producer is going to make money on that added weight."

For example, if a 500-pound calf needs 10 pounds of feed per day to gain 2 pounds per day and feed cost is $300 per ton, feed costs would be $1.50 per day with a cost of gain of 75 cents per pound.

"If you can sell these calves at $1.50 per pound, there's definitely some economic gain," Lemenager said.



"Doing some of these things can add value, but producers need to understand the market and what it is willing to pay for," he said. "If doing the extra work will help net income, why not take advantage of it?"



Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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