Weaning Calves

Hello and happy New Year!

Last week was weaning time on the farm. To wean calves, we run cattle through the corral and sort cows into one paddock and calves into another. The two paddocks are separated by a fence, so the cows and calves are only a few feet away from each other. This fenceline weaning technique is less stressful because the cows and calves can still see and hear each other. For a few days, the cows and calves spend a bunch of time at the fence calling each other. They also wander around their own paddock to eat and drink and lie down.

Every year we try to make the fencing between the two groups more impenetrable, but for the last few years we have had a group of calves escape and get back in with their mothers. Then we have to go catch them again and start over. Most of the calling is done after four or five days, but we keep the calves near the corral for a few weeks in case any of them gets sick. After weaning, we can start feeding the calves some of our best feed, while the cows fare better on lower quality hay when they are no longer lactating.

This is one of the freeze resistant waterers we use during the winter. The tank is insulated, with two openings sealed by floating blue balls. To get a drink, a cow pushes one of the blue balls down with her nose. When she is done drinking the ball floats back up and covers the hole.

The market lambs are growing well in the barn. They have access to quality baleage all the time, but they only get beet pellets once a day. In the photo above, you can see the lambs all waiting patiently for their pellets. It is much easier to walk through the barn after the pellets are served, below.

Thanks for reading,

Leith, Mary Kate, Norah & Edith MacKenzie