Weaning wrecks don’t start at the chute. By the time calves are pacing the fence and bawling for their dams, most of the important decisions have already been made — sometimes months earlier. Dr. Eric Moore says successful weaning is the payoff after a year’s worth of planning around genetics, colostrum, nutrition, parasite control and facilities, not just what happens on weaning day.
“If we go back to how we really set weaning up, proper planning prevents poor performance,” says Moore, Bimeda director of U.S. technical services. “It really takes a full calendar year of planning for that weaning process.”
Weaning Starts at Birth — And Maybe Before
For Moore, a good weaning season starts long before calves hit the pen.
“It starts when that calf is born,” he stresses. “You’re really setting up what the weaning system is going to be. And if we really want to jump back even further, if we’re coming off a drought the previous year when that cow was challenged, then that colostrum is important. Building the immune system is important prior to weaning.”
He urges producers to think of weaning as the culmination of a 12-month health and nutrition program, which includes:
- Sound genetics that match the environment.
- A solid mineral and nutrition program for cows and growing calves.
- Thoughtful vaccination and deworming plans designed with a local veterinarian.
“If I’m setting a calf crop up for success, it starts at conception,” Moore explains. “Genetics, nutrition, health are going to be the three big factors. Health is making sure that immune system is prepped, both from a nutritional standpoint and from an immunological standpoint, so it can respond to the challenges it’s going to hit after it leaves your place.”
Match the Weaning Program to Your Reality
One consistent theme in Moore’s experience is that there’s no single ‘right’ way to wean.
“I’ve had producers that will pull them off, catch them, take them straight off and have no problems,” he says. “I’ve had producers that have given three rounds of shots, they bring them together and they break with disease.”
The difference isn’t a magic protocol, he says, but how well the plan fits the operation’s facilities, labor and environment.
“If I look at weaning strategies, you have to match your system,” Moore explains. “If I’m out in the middle of Wyoming or if I’m in a small herd in Tennessee, it’s going to go back to how you’re capable of managing those cattle. Sometimes bringing those cattle in can be more detrimental than delaying intervention or delaying a vaccination. It has to match what your facilities and what your system can handle.”
That might mean:
- Fence-line weaning where facilities are limited.
- A more intensive preconditioning program where labor and pen space allow.
- Adjusting timing to avoid extreme heat or cold, especially in drought or marginal nutritional conditions.
“Match those cattle to your environmental resources,” he summarizes. “Look back on what issues you’ve had in previous years and try to address those before you get to weaning.”
Stick to the Fundamentals
In the end, Moore circles back to fundamentals.
“If you do the common things uncommonly well, you’ll always lead to a better chance of success,” he says. “The more we can do to reduce stress, get them on feed and water right away, and make that transition as short as we can, the more successful we’ll be.”
There’s no secret sauce to weaning success, he adds — just planning, preparation and the humility to know that sometimes, despite your best work, there are factors you can’t control.
“It’s just that simple,” Moore summarizes. “There’s no magic wand you can wave. It takes planning and preparation — and knowing it’s going to be a wreck sometimes because there’s some stuff we can’t control.”
Top 3 Weaning Tips From Dr. Moore
When asked for his top three weaning tips, Dr. Eric Moore didn’t hesitate:
1. Start With Water: Clean, Easy to Find and Plentiful
Water is the most basic — and most overlooked — piece of weaning success. Moore stresses water intake drives feed intake, so calves have to be able to both find and want the water.
He says it is important to make sure tanks, bunks or troughs are clean and not slimy or stale.
“It’s the least fun to do,” he admits. “No one wants to empty a tank or scrub water tanks. But water is key. If there’s anything that precludes them from taking in water, everything else falls apart.”
Place water where calves naturally travel — fence line or in obvious traffic paths. If you’re changing from a pond or creek to a tank, acclimate calves to the new water source before weaning if possible.
“We forget water every time,” Moore summarizes. “Do the common things uncommonly well — and water is one of them.”
2. Reduce Stress Wherever You Can
Weaning is stressful by definition, but producers can decrease the stress load through management by:
- Align your weaning method with your facilities, labor and environment.
- Avoid stacking stressors: Don’t combine weaning, long-haul transport and major weather swings if you can help it.
- Think about commingling risk when multiple calf groups come together.
“Weaning is a stressful event,” Moore says. “The longer that stress is, the longer that calf has to adapt, the more likely they are to get sick. Anything we can do to dampen that or shorten that period, whether it be increasing the immune system or decreasing the effect of stress, is what we need to do at weaning.”
3. Get Calves on a Palatable, Energy-Dense Ration Fast
Once calves are off the cow, the clock starts on how quickly they find feed and go to work. Moore suggests offering a highly palatable, energy-dense starter that encourages intake the first 15 to 20 days.
If you can, creep feed or expose calves to the weaning diet ahead of time so the ration and bunks are familiar.
Be sure to watch that timid or lightweight calves are actually getting to the bunk; adjust space or grouping as needed.
The goal, Moore says, is simple: Quiet calves that are drinking, then eating, as soon as possible. Do that, and you’ve taken a big step toward fewer pulls, better gain, and a smoother weaning season.
This article is part of Drovers’ Weaning Strategies and Preparation Week — the week of Aug. 17. Weaning is a high-stakes milestone when herd health, nutrition and marketing strategies must align perfectly. Throughout the week, the Drovers team will share expert-backed tips to minimize stress on your calves — and your bottom line. Bookmark our weaning resource hub to stay updated.
