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WY, OK | Sounds like they are acting "normal" for being weaned. We are not fans of any kind of fenceline weaning, might make for a harsher day or two but we can turn the calves out after 5 days with a good wean and no cows within miles to hear, smell or see. Of course if you can't get the calves and cows several miles apart that is not an option. We also take things incredibly slow in the lot when they are first weaned, no fast movements, no loud noses and we clear out anything they can run into to make a racket. Keeping all the feed in front of them they can eat is a very good start, also if you are going to sell any now it would be best to wait 45-60 days to get some premiums and to get them gaining weight again, right now in that first week they are shrinking big time. As for the walking they are going to do that for up to a week and you'll need very good fence to keep them in and if they get spooked they will run through just about anything short of a rock wall and they would even try to get through that if they could.
We have in the past used some cull cows in with the weaners for that first week, not sure if it did anything at all other than driving those few cows crazy w/ dozens of calves chasing them. We've also found steer calves seem to be a problem almost always and heifers will calm down much quicker. Luckily heifers are what we do so the trouble making steers get shipped on weaning day for the most part. | |
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weaning some "nervous" cattle? :-)
