Pre-Weaning Strategies to Maximize Calf Health
By Heather Smith Thomas
Weaning is one of the most stressful events in a calf’s life, but proper preparation can make the transition much easier. When calves are weaned with less stress, they stay healthier and are less likely to develop illness.
A successful pre-weaning program starts with vaccinations. Ideally, calves should be vaccinated two to three weeks before weaning, giving their immune systems enough time to build protection against the most common diseases they may encounter. Because stress weakens the immune system, building immunity before weaning is one of the best ways to reduce sickness. Calves vaccinated at branding also benefit from receiving booster shots before weaning, helping maximize their protection.
Preparing calves for their new environment can further reduce stress. One effective strategy is to place cows and calves in the weaning pasture or pen several days before separation. This allows calves to learn where water is located and how to eat from feed bunks by following their mothers’ example. Once the cows are removed, the calves are already familiar with their surroundings and adapt more quickly.
Dr. Daryl Meyer, a veterinarian in North Platte, Nebraska, works with many producers who buy lightweight calves, grow them to 850 to 950 pounds, and then market them to feedlots. According to Meyer, buyers are willing to pay for calves that have been properly prepared.
“They want healthy calves, especially when they’re paying premium prices,” Meyer says. “Many of my clients buy cattle through video sales and won’t even bid on calves that haven’t been preconditioned with weaning and vaccinations.”
Some cow-calf producers believe strong cattle prices have reduced the value of preconditioning. Meyer disagrees.
“Some producers think they no longer receive a premium because demand is so high,” he explains. “What they don’t realize is that many buyers simply won’t bid on calves that haven’t been preconditioned.”
Instead of focusing only on today’s market, Meyer encourages producers to think about the people buying their calves.
“Buyers of lightweight calves are looking for value,” he says. “Preconditioned calves carry less risk because they’re less likely to get sick. As a producer, you need to understand what your customers want.”
Meyer also recommends working closely with a local herd health veterinarian when developing a vaccination program.
“There isn’t just one right way to do it,” he says. “Several preconditioning programs can be successful. Your veterinarian knows your herd and can help you choose the right vaccines. They can also help you understand what buyers across your region expect.”
A ranch’s reputation also plays an important role in future marketing opportunities. Feedlot operators and calf buyers remember cattle that stay healthy and perform well. On the other hand, a poor-performing group can discourage buyers from purchasing calves from the same operation again.
For that reason, producers should make every effort to ship only healthy calves.
One Idaho rancher offers a simple rule: if a calf has been treated for scours, pneumonia or another illness before sale day, leave it at home and market it separately. Even after recovering, previously sick calves often don’t perform as well in the feedlot and may experience recurring health problems.
Preventing disease is far more valuable than treating it later. A solid herd health program includes vaccinating cows, vaccinating calves at the proper times, administering booster shots and minimizing stress during weaning. Although treated calves may recover, many never regain their full performance potential.
Even illnesses that seem minor can have lasting effects. Pneumonia, for example, may leave permanent lung damage that limits a calf’s breathing capacity. Some calves appear healthy for months before poor performance—or even death—occurs later in the feeding period.
Good nutrition is essential for an effective vaccination program. According to Dr. Chris Chase, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at South Dakota State University, calves in poor nutritional condition often don’t respond as well to vaccines.
“If calves have been grazing drought-stressed pastures or their dams haven’t received adequate nutrition, their immune response may be compromised,” Chase explains.
Trace minerals and vitamins play a major role in immune function. Copper, zinc and selenium are especially important, while vitamins A and D help support a healthy immune system. In drought conditions or when cattle have been grazing dry, low-quality forage, vitamin deficiencies can become a concern.
“We sometimes assume cattle have enough vitamin A,” Chase says. “But if forage quality has declined, cows and calves may become deficient. In those situations, injectable vitamins can be beneficial.”
Although administering vitamins before vaccination is ideal, Chase recognizes that additional handling isn’t always practical. Even giving vitamins at the same time as vaccinations is better than providing no supplementation at all.
Producers should also evaluate their mineral program with their herd veterinarian. Adequate energy intake is equally important because calves need enough nutrition to mount a strong immune response. Nursing calves generally receive enough energy unless drought or poor pasture conditions have caused them to lose body condition.
Weather Can Affect Vaccine Performance
Weather is another factor producers often overlook.
High temperatures can reduce the effectiveness of certain intranasal vaccines. Chase explains that the IBR component of these vaccines depends on the cooler temperature inside the nasal cavity to stimulate an immune response.
“When temperatures and humidity are high, the nasal cavity becomes warmer,” he says. “If it gets too warm, the vaccine virus doesn’t replicate as intended, reducing the immune response.”
On hot days, producers may be better off using an injectable vaccine instead.
“In calves older than three months, maternal antibodies usually aren’t much of a concern,” Chase says. “An injectable vaccine is often the better option under those conditions.”
Regardless of the vaccine used, healthy calves respond better than stressed ones.
“If the animal isn’t nutritionally sound or is under significant stress, no vaccine will perform as well as it should,” Chase says. “You have to start by making sure the calf is in the right condition to respond.”
Choosing the Right Vaccines
Most calves need protection against respiratory and clostridial diseases before weaning. Chase recommends discussing vaccine protocols with a herd veterinarian because combining certain products incorrectly can create problems.
“The typical pre-weaning program includes a four-way viral vaccine, Mannheimia protection and clostridial vaccines,” he says. “However, producers need to be careful about giving too many gram-negative vaccines at once.”
Administering separate Mannheimia and Histophilus vaccines at the same time may increase the risk of vaccine reactions unless the products are specifically licensed as a combination vaccine.
“When you combine different products, you don’t always know how they’ll interact,” Chase says. “Your veterinarian can help you develop a program that’s both safe and effective.”
Vaccine Handling Matters
Proper vaccine handling is just as important as selecting the right products.
Warren Rusche, Ph.D., assistant professor and SDSU Extension feedlot management specialist, says producers sometimes overlook basic handling practices during the busy fall season.
“Warm weather affects both the vaccine and the animal,” Rusche says. “Storage temperature, mixing time and handling all influence how well a vaccine performs.”
Even if calves appear healthy, poor handling practices can reduce immunity before they ever leave the ranch.
“This impacts the calves you’re selling, but it also affects the ones you’re keeping as replacements or backgrounding,” he says.
Rusche encourages producers to review their vaccination procedures each year instead of relying on memory.
“Simple details matter,” he says. “Inject in the proper location, follow the correct route of administration, keep vaccines cool and avoid mixing products improperly. A checklist can help ensure everything is done correctly.”
Nutrition During Weaning
Shannon Williams, University of Idaho Extension educator in Lemhi County, believes nutrition before and during weaning is just as important as vaccination.
“The first question is, what are those calves eating?” Williams says. “If they’re grazing crop residue or eating older hay, it’s worth spending the money to test the forage.”
A forage analysis costs relatively little but can identify nutritional deficiencies before they become health problems. If supplementation is needed, producers can make adjustments before calves experience unnecessary stress.
Whenever possible, Williams recommends weaning calves on lush pasture.
“Green grass is usually better than hay,” she says. “It’s more nutritious and eliminates dust that can contribute to respiratory issues.”
If calves must transition to a different ration, changes should be gradual.
Start with good-quality long-stem grass hay that calves already recognize before introducing concentrates, corn silage or high-quality alfalfa. Gradually changing the diet helps maintain intake and reduces digestive upset.
Williams also recommends bringing cows and calves together into the feeding area several days before weaning.
“The calves learn by watching their mothers,” she says. “They figure out how to eat from a bunk before they’re separated, so they’re much quicker to start eating after weaning.”
That simple management step can reduce stress, encourage feed intake and support better health throughout the weaning period.
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