For dairy farmers, the milk produced by your cow should ideally go to the stores. However, after calves are born, they need those vital nutrients from their mother to stay strong; therefore, you must be patient and exact when transitioning them to animal feed instead. The guide below explains how to make the process as smooth and safe as possible.

Techniques for Healthy Weaning

1. Allow Colostrum

The colostrum is the first milk the cow produces, which can't be consumed by humans but is vital for the calf. It should have its first feeding within five hours of birth and should be allowed to nurse as often as possible for the first two to three days. If the calf isn't suckling correctly, you may need to help it by tube feeding the colostrum to her.

2. Begin Giving Them Starter

Starter is a dry feed formulated specifically for calves, which should be introduced as soon as possible. This lets the calf get used to eating animal feed and helps develop its digestive system so it will fare better on a solid diet. For the first few weeks, you'll need to replace stale feed with a fresh serving each day and increase the baby’s servings in accordance with its appetite.

3. Full or Partial Weaning

If you have access to a low-cost milk replacer for the calf, you can wean the calf starting at only a few days of age. Otherwise, you should wait until about eight weeks of age to begin. Weaning can be full, meaning the calf is completely separated from its mother and not allowed to nurse, or partial, meaning the calf is allowed a limited amount of nursing at specific times.

4. Provide Water

Calves start drinking water around two weeks of age and, by six weeks, drink four liters a day. This is in addition to nursing or being fed milk replacers. Lack of water can quickly kill a calf, so make sure it has free access to as much as needed.

5. Offer Grass

For your calf's stomach to develop correctly, it also needs to have access to fresh grass to nibble. If the calf is being kept penned, bring fresh grass to its pen daily. This grass should be cut from an area where no livestock grazes to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites.

If you need animal feed and seeds for your farm, visit Carhart Feed & Seed Co in Dove Creek, CO. Serving Dolores County, they’ve been in business for more than 25 years, selling a wide range of supplies, including vet equipment, to help meet the needs of your livestock. They serve both large farms and smaller, family-run operations. For questions about their inventory, call (970) 677-2233.