It is time to think about weaning this year’s calves. We typically wait until the calves are between 7 and 8 months old. We like to have the calves with the Mom’s as long as possible for several reasons….Momma’s train their babies on safe practices, where the best grazing spots are, how to fight off coyotes and wild dogs, that the people who feed you are good to be around, and most of all provide the nutritional benefit of milk.
Since weaning can be a stressful time for both the calves and the cows. The traditional method involves removing all the calves at one time, putting them in a pen out of sight (and out of hearing range) from their mothers, and then letting them settle down over the next few days. When that happens we have a chorus of mooing that goes on for a long time. Day and Night!
It works but it is stressful for both the cows and the calves and me. I hate hearing the longing in their voices. But babies do need to grow-up, and this is a necessary practice.
After years and years of doing it the loud way, we started doing a thing called soft weaning where the calves are removed from the cow herd and allowed to stay in an adjacent pen where they are in full view of their Moms. Once they are separated the cow and calf will often lie together on different sides of the fence and be much more relaxed than if they were completely separated. After a few days we make the main break moving the calves to their new place and the Mom’s back out on the pasture. We can do this because we have a very small herd. Very small!
Weaning is an important part of over-all health of the Mother and the calf. Otherwise the Mom will keep on nursing her full-grown calf even after she has another calf. Not good. Cows are the eternal Earth Mother: they just can never stop taking care of their babies.
Life on a Colorado Farm 
That makes a lot of sense. We frequently tie calves near their mothers and even though we milk the cow and bottle feed the babies, everybody is happy and our cows also teach the calves the way of things…everything from working the water bowl to eating grain and hay. Like you we can only do it that way because we are so small.
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Wow, thats really neat. Sounds like your way of weaning works out best.
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That is very good advice! We usually buy the calves. We would like to do the cow, calf but that is down the road at this time. We like to just raise the beef for ourselves.
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Enjoy the cow song! It’s over here at least.
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I’ve never had cows or calves but if I did I’d want to do the soft way. It sounds more humane.
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Awwwww……I know it has to be done, but I feel so sorry for both moms and calves when they get separated. 😦
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Soft-weaning sounds like a good and more sympathetic plan. I like that, little soft-hearted me. I know you can’t really be sympathetic earning a living on the farm, but if you have a choice on some things, I vote this way!
I read your post on your grandfathers, your father, and your son. I know you are proud of all of them, and I say thanks to them and ask the Lord to be with our soldiers of today, including yours. God bless him and your family.
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Hi Linda~…..we just did that here too. But the constant Mooing of the Mamas and Babies…….oh my, it does so disturb my nerves to hear them since they are just across the road (Barn Side of the Road) from our house!
….That’s to say nothing of the poor Babies being separated from their Mamas.
Some things are just difficult living the Country Farmer’s Life.
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Thanks for giving me some incite to the problems of a farmer.Nice cow mummies looking after their babies so well.
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That’s how we used to do it. An adjacent pen first. Three reasons, less stress for them, but the bigger two were not nearly so much land as you have and the crying is awful to listen to hour after hour. Poor things.
~Faith
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I remember listening to the mommas cry. It was difficult for everyone. Like your way better.
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That’s a good way to wean. Seems like it’s not so hard on everyone involved.
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We always fed our calves with one of those pails with a teat. There was less separation anxiety that way. I loved feeding the calves..sometimes they got really aggressive..butting you with their heads. Fun times as I recall. Sounds like your way works great! 🙂
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I like the idea of slow weaning. As a nursing mama, I feel for those mama cows and their babies!
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I love that view just beyond the cows … so vast and beautiful! City folks like myself are really out of touch with what you folks go through with weaning and the like. Thanks for the insight. Sounds like you found a way to wean them that is less stressful for everyone involved.
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When they start to be about as big as mama its getting time to cut the apron strings:) I think the soft way would be the way to go, it would also break my heart to hear them missing each other so much.
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Interesting weaning method. Makes sense, well, maybe not for jumping horses ;-).
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