What Is Weaning a Calf?

Calves are raised in a variety of ways depending on the size of the farm, the breed of cow and the eventual use of the calf. Regardless of these factors, however, all calves must be weaned from a diet of liquid (either milk from its mother or a replacement milk feeding process) to a diet of roughage or dry feed.

  1. Weaning

    • Weaning a calf is the process of transitioning a calf from a liquid to a solid diet. Traditionally, this involves separating the calf from its mother so that the calf no longer relies on suckling milk. While practices vary according to farm and size of farm, generally a weaning calf's diet is supplemented with calf starter and liquid milk replacement. The appropriate timing of weaning is also important, and usually takes place around eight weeks of age.

    Rumen Development

    • Calves must not be weaned until their rumen is adequately developed. The rumen is the part of the digestive system that allows cows to digest and subsist on roughage such as grass, hay and leaves. At birth, the rumen is small and inactive, and does not develop until the calf begins to nibble on roughage, usually at about three weeks. Somewhere between five and eight weeks, the rumen is usually developed enough for the calf to rely fully on roughage for nutrition.

    Liquids

    • Both before and during the weaning phase, a calf must be provided with plenty of clean water and usually with a milk replacer. Water is necessary for the rumen to develop properly, and a milk replacement is necessary to continue providing the calf with nutrients as it transitions to roughage. The most important component of a milk replacement is protein, though some farmers add supplementary nutrients and medications to their milk replacements.

    Smaller Farms

    • On smaller farms when calves are raised alongside their mothers, a few kinds of methods can be used to wean a calf. Some calves are simply separated from their mothers completely, although in that case both cow and calf tend to display stress and a decline in consumption of roughage. Other farms employ a method of muzzling a calf to the point where it is unable to suckle from a teat, but can still feed on roughage, water and engage in physical contact with its mother. This method appears to reduce the negative effects of separation while resulting in a successful weaning process.