Weaning is one of the more critical management strategies in any livestock system. When done correctly, there are many benefits on offer for livestock and for producers. These range from educating livestock in how to understand and react around people through to education on how to use troughs, feeders and hay racks.
Cattle require constant access to good quality hay or silage
There are a number of flow-on benefits from yard weaning that are not always realised on farm. Some of these benefits include more robust immune systems, as well as a quicker adaption to more crowded environments than experienced in home paddocks.
Earlier this year I was talking with a close contact from northern Australia, who wondered why producers in the southern regions made such a big deal from yard weaning. He commented that it was not really something new, and that Qld producers had been yard weaning for years. Effectively the question was “what’s the big deal, it’s not new!”
In some ways he is both right and wrong! And I know that that is like having a bet each way, but there are some subtle differences between the traditional weaning in yards, and what is now ,more commonly referred to as yard weaning.
Traditionally, producers who weaned cattle into yards used a short 4 to 8 day window to remove calves from cows. Kept in yards with access to food and water, the animals were often provided with a range of educational experiences. These might range from being moved through the yard system, including the race and crush area. Many producers used the opportunity to introduce movement with horses, dogs, or motor bikes. The animals may have learned to associate the yards and troughs with water and feed.
These systems worked very well and continue to be the backbone of most northern weaning programs. Well educated cattle move through yards easily and with less stress. Their early lessons help them adjust to new experiences and handling easily.
“So, what is the difference between weaning in yards and yard weaning? The subtle differences are time and space.”
One of the most significant results from research conducted by NSW DPI into yard weaning identified the potential to improve immunity in young animals over yard weaning. This immunity, particularly in regard to respiratory disease, meant that in later life these animals were less likely to get sick in feedlots, and continued to grow at required daily rates.
Immunity is the result of early challenges to the system. And to achieve this it was found that yard weaning ideally needs to extend for a longer period than producers had traditionally undertaken the process. To maximise the immune systems development, weaning needs to be for around a minimum of 7 days through to about 10 days.
Aim for 7 - 10 days in the yards
The other key is the aspect of social distancing! However, in the case of yard weaning, cattle need to be close with each other in order to ensure this sharing actually occurs! In traditional systems, the idea was often to provide plenty of space. However, this doesn’t get the level of mixing and sharing that is required to achieve the immunity levels so necessary to later life performance.
While handling and movement is considered an essential part of the weaning experience, in performance terms there is very little difference for animals that are handled during yard weaning and those that are not. However, as most experienced producers will highlight, early education is essential and what happens to animals at a young age is very rarely forgotten.
“My advice to producers asking me about weaning, is that effective yard weaning is a must! However, there are some golden rules to follow”
Wean into well-built weaner-proof yards with good quality water. Don’t use small paddocks or holding pens.
Cattle need to be kept to a stocking density of 4m2 per head for 180-260kg calves
Provide good quality hay or silage ad lib - ME 8.5 or better, protein 12 per cent or better. This should be fed in racks
Kept in yards 7-10 days.
Some human presence each day but specific training isn’t necessary for later feedlot performance.
Reasonably sloped non-bogging surface.
Use the opportunity to assess temperament and structural issues
I also think the time in the yards is the opportunity to look over and assess your cattle for temperament and to consider the suitable pathways for production for the cohort. Animals that don’t settle or are not suited for feedlots or backgrounding can be drafted and managed for a different market. It’s often easier to do this now rather than during an excitable period of handling when cattle may be a bit older.
Don’t forget yard weaned calves also have greater social bonds between individuals. This helps them settle and adjust when they move to new programs and finishing systems. This quick adjustment reduces stress and helps animals stay healthy and grow better than cattle weaned by other methods.