Cow-Calf Corner
 
Short Term Calf Removal
       Short-term calf removal is the term that describes the temporary physical separation of the calf from its mother. This removes the nursing stimulus from the cow for about 2 days. The care of the calf during that 48 hours is actually quite simple. Most producers will make certain that calves access to some "sweet" feed and plenty of fresh drinking water. The calves will eat very little during this time. Removal of calves for 48 hours has shown to improve rebreeding rates of moderately conditioned (BCS=5) cows by 4-8%.   (See table 1.)  This improvement although, seemingly small in magnitude is large compared to the out-of-pocket investment. Short-term calf removal can be used at the first of the breeding season or in the middle or both depending on the labor situation.  Short term calf removal is not a powerful enough stimulus to "jump start" very thin cows.  Those that are in a body condition score of 4 or less may need to have the calves weaned completely to allow the cow to recycle early in the upcoming breeding season. 

Table 1. Summary of 3 trials comparing 48 hour short term calf removal to cow/calf pairs that were traditionally suckled. (Simms, et al. 1982 KSU Cattleman's Day) 

Treatment          No.                   %pregnant                           Calf 
                          Cows                 at palpation                       A.D.G. 

Control              101                             87.1                            1.60 

Removed             86                             93.0                            1.63 
 
      Those cows that calve in the BCS 6 or fatter can be expected to return to estrus early in the breeding season and should have high rebreeding rates. Although not harmful, the 
practices of early weaning, short-term calf removal, or feeding extra feed will NOT show 
significant advantages for these cows. Therefore producers will want to continue their 
normal lactating cow supplementation programs until green grass provides the nutrients that these cows need.  Concerns about calf health and growth are disspelled by comparing the average daily gain over the entire seven months of calf nursing.  Those that were removed from the cows for 48 hours grew as rapidly and had similar weaning weights as those who were never removed from their mothers. 
 

  
 

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