Here's why:
* Milk is essential: A calf's primary source of nutrition is its mother's milk, which provides essential antibodies and nutrients for healthy growth.
* Weaning time: At around 6-8 months, calves start to eat solid food like hay and grain and are ready to be weaned from their mothers. This is a gradual process where the calf's dependence on milk decreases while its consumption of solid food increases.
There can be some variation in weaning age depending on factors like breed, climate, and management practices.