Weaning calves before auction reduces stress and could increase profits

Source:  AgriLife Today

Spring-born calves will soon be arriving at auction markets, but producers should consider a weaning plan that will help keep calves healthier and happier, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist Dr. Jason Banta.

“Weaning is a stressful event, so it’s better if you can do it at the ranch where the calf was born rather than it going through that process elsewhere,” Banta said.

Stressed calves can shrink 5-15 percent or more when moved straight from pasture to the auction market without weaning, Banta said. As a result, a 500-pound calf could easily weigh 450 pounds or less by the time it reaches the sale.

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