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Evaluation of Forage-Based Weaning Systems in Spring Born Cross-Breed Beef Calves

Evaluation of Forage-Based Weaning Systems in Spring Born Cross-Breed Beef Calves. Ronnie Helmondollar Randolph Co WVU Extension service. Objective. Evaluate different supplements that may be used when weaning calves in a forage-based system

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Evaluation of Forage-Based Weaning Systems in Spring Born Cross-Breed Beef Calves

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  1. Evaluation of Forage-Based Weaning Systems in Spring Born Cross-Breed Beef Calves Ronnie Helmondollar Randolph Co WVU Extension service

  2. Objective Evaluate different supplements that may be used when weaning calves in a forage-based system Determine the effect of early weaning on cow condition score

  3. Why? • Preconditioned calves have more market value than non-weaned calves • The biggest expense in a weaning program is feed cost • Cow Condition is a secondary benefit

  4. Treatments • Three treatments • Commercial Pellet (Treatment I) • Ground Corn/mineral premix (Treatment II) • Pasture and mama (Treatment III)

  5. Methods • Weights were taken at: • Pre-weaning vaccination (Early August) • Calves were blocked by sex, AOD and weight • Weaning (Early September) • Randomly assigned to treatments within blocks • Post Weaning (45 days- mid-October) • Treatment three calves were weaned at this time Cow weights, BCS and ultrasound measurements were recorded at each of the three weigh periods

  6. Weaning Management • Vaccination • IBR, BVD I & II, PI3, Lepto • Clostridial • Haemophilus somnus • Pasturella • Dewormed, external parasites • Dry lot until moved to pasture plots – 5-7 days

  7. Paddocks • Aftermath hay field – orchard grass, clover, fescue, bluegrass • Strip grazed – polywire was moved once a week or sooner if needed • Supplements were bunk feed once a day

  8. Results

  9. Treatment

  10. Year

  11. Treatment x year

  12. Sex of calf

  13. Sex x year

  14. Age of Dam

  15. Cow information

  16. Economic analysis of feeding energy supplement on pasture backgrounding programs

  17. Discussion • Calves can be weaned in a forage system without sacrifice weight gain • Steer calves gain more than heifer calves • AOD can have an effect on weight gain • Weather differences can effect weight gain

  18. Discussion cont’d • BCS can be improved by weaning calves • BCS changes are maintained into the next breeding season • Corn has a net advantage over a pelleted feed (processing corn will add to the cost of using corn)

  19. Collaboration • WVDA Land Division - Huttonsville Unit cows and calves were used as part of this project. • Students from WVU Animal Science unit assisted with data collection

  20. Thank you!! Questions?

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