Weaning and Preconditioning Management

Weaning is probably the most stressful time in a calf's life and often is made more stressful by the addition of transportation, processing and new surroundings. Additionally, the decisions made by ranchers during this period have a significant impact on the market value of the calves. On this page you will find links to articles that describe weaning methods that minimize stress, and increase well-being and profitability, as well as articles that describe preconditioning methods that add value to calves.

  • Minimizing Weaning Stress
    Extension Guide B-221 describes how calves respond to weaning stress and reviews research on how to minimize these stressors.
  • Early Weaning Beef Calves
    Extension Guide B-126 outlines how early weaning can be used as a tool to help maintain reproductive performance and manage grazing pressure.