Weaning calves early?

[ChristaCheatham]

I have a Walks Alone calf that was born April 6th. I want to show him at my county fair in the bucket calf class. The show is at the end of July/early August. My dad thinks that you cant wean a calf at 3 or 4 months of age. Is there a way to wean him in the heat of the summer? Luckily he lets me near him now and again but I need your advice.

 

[Quick fire]

You can definetly wean them that early. We wean all our show calves at 100-120 days old. Works fine. Just start them on grain.

 

[jbzdad]

sure.. start him on creep now ... you might want to search for "day weaning" for some more info... there is also some info around on 2 step weaning you might want to consider... might cut down on sress

 

[jbzdad]

can you keep him in a cooler spot during the day  fans misters etc

 

[ChristaCheatham]

Ya since I built a cool toom this year my other 4h steer is in therr and I have a plave with shavings and a fan in the barn

 

[rmbcows]

Just curious... around here, bucket calf classes are for calves raised on bottles or buckets, not by their moms.  Are we behind the times?  lol

 

[Warrior10]

Just curious... around here, bucket calf classes are for calves raised on bottles or buckets, not by their moms.  Are we behind the times?  lol

Same here haha. Maybe the original poster doesn't have "stocker feeder" classes at their fair.

 

[ChristaCheatham]

At our fair the "bucket calf show" is considered a feeder stock show. The calves don't have to be raised by a bottle.

 

[Garrett]

last year I weaned off four calves right at the 1st of June. The calves were shorthorn or shorthorn plus and they got all their needs (hay, creep feed, water etc) and they have done great. Sold two and the other two are back in the herd and the four cows bred back AI no problem and all had calves this year. I am doing it again this year. I liked it because the calves were utilizing the creep feed and hay efficiently and I was able to get my cows out to pasture quicker with the herd bull.

 

[ChristaCheatham]

Well we started to wean the calf today. He is eating the purina pre-conditioning pellets great. With the heat he's also been drinking and eating hay great as well. He doesn't seem to be in any distress. Planning on having my younger brother show him. We are also  planning on giving him a week before we start the breaking process.