We have all seen calves reach impressive weaning weights on generous milk-feeding programs, only to struggle when milk disappears. The problem is not necessarily poor growth before weaning, but whether that growth can continue without expensive liquid feed.
For beef-on-dairy calves, I believe we need to pay more attention to how we withdraw milk, when we do it, and what happens afterward.
Wean the Calf, Not the Calendar
Age helps organize calf management, but it should not dictate weaning. Body weight alone is equally misleading, particularly when a group includes different beef and dairy genetics.
U.S. dairy-calf recommendations generally identify at least 2 lb. of starter daily for three consecutive days before weaning. I would retain that as a minimum, but recommend targeting 3 lb. of dry starter, as-fed, daily for at least three consecutive days in beef-on-dairy calves, preferably with intake already well established.
British and Irish dairy-beef programs also use approximately 175 to 180 lb. live weight at eight weeks as an early growth reference. However, a Holstein-cross calf and a Jersey-cross calf may have very different growth potential. I would consider weight relative to birth weight alongside starter intake rather than apply one absolute weight threshold to every calf.
Reduce Milk, Increase Independence
I would be more aggressive in gradually reducing milk allowance toward weaning than is common in intensive dairy replacement-heifer programs.
The reason is economic. A replacement heifer represents an investment in future milk production. A beef-on-dairy calf must eventually recover its rearing costs through beef production. The two animals do not necessarily justify identical milk-feeding strategies.
My preference is to begin a more aggressive step-down in milk allowance once starter intake is established, allowing dry-feed consumption to increase before milk is completely withdrawn.
This does not mean forcing a hungry calf onto starter or accepting poor growth to save milk replacer. If intake or health deteriorates, the schedule should be reconsidered.
The objective is to reduce dependence on milk without sacrificing the calf’s ability to continue growing. The cheapest weaned calf is not necessarily the most profitable one entering the growing phase.
One Transition at a Time
Weaning is demanding enough without adding several management challenges simultaneously.
Transportation, regrouping, vaccination, processing and an abrupt ration change can each interfere with feed intake. Combining them with milk withdrawal makes it difficult to determine why calves subsequently struggle.
Commercial operations cannot always avoid these combinations. Whenever possible, however, I would prefer calves to demonstrate satisfactory intake and growth without milk before transportation or major changes in management.
A stable ration, familiar feed delivery and unrestricted access to clean water are relatively simple ways to protect intake during this period.
Value Is What Survives Weaning
I do not judge a weaning program by the weight recorded on weaning day.
The first 14 to 21 days after milk withdrawal are more revealing. Are calves eating consistently? Are they maintaining growth? How many require treatment, and how uniform is the group becoming?
I would then follow performance over the next two to three months of early growing. This longer period tells us whether the initial transition was followed by satisfactory performance, although subsequent management also influences the results.
In my view, beef-on-dairy needs its own weaning benchmarks, combining starter intake, growth relative to birth weight, health and subsequent performance. Weaning should not be considered successful simply because milk feeding has stopped. It is successful when the calf continues growing economically without it.
