Weaning may be one of the most stressful times in a calf’s life. Calves may consume less feed and water, which results in poor nutrition. The stress can also depress the immune system, increasing the risk for sickness or death. Any opportunity to reduce the stress contributes to improved health and performance of calves, both during and after weaning.
Typical weaning involving the abrupt removal of the calf from the cow will create a highly stressful situation. Any weaning process that makes the separation more gradual will reduce the stress and potentially improve the calf’s health…
