Weaner Management and Fertility

Question 1

To be profitable what does the weaning percentage need to be?

Answer 1

at least 75% of breeders tested pregnant

Question 2

What factors influence weaner management strategies?

Answer 2

Time for cows to conceive/reconceive

Question 3

What are benefits of well managed weaner programs?

Answer 3

Dams in better BCS
Lighter socking rates improving CP and ME which also improves conception rates the following year
Stops milk productive decreasing the cows energy requirement
Weaners in a good program can be educated easier

Question 4

How long after calving does a cow have to get pregnant and what BCS should she be at to achieve this?

Answer 4

Have 75 days after calving and to provide the best chance at conception she needs to have a BCS of 3 or more

Question 5

When is traditional weaning done?

Answer 5

4-8 months

Question 6

When is radical weaning done?

Answer 6

Under 100kg or under 3 months (need special care)

Question 7

What is early weaning done?

Answer 7

100-150kg or 3-4 months of age

Question 8

With regards to the pasture when should you wean?

Answer 8

Wean before the pasture enters late phase 3 to phase 4

Question 9

What advantages are there to weaning in April?

Answer 9

Can save the cow 10-15kg liveweight/month –> equivalent to 1 BCS over 3 months

Question 10

What can phase 1 and 2 pastures provide?

Answer 10

Adequate ME and CP to assist cows in producing milk and calves to transition to a forage based diet

Question 11

What will phase 3 pastures not support?

Answer 11

Milk production and good rates of LWG and BCS unless pasture mass is high

Question 12

What will phase 4 pastures not support?

Answer 12

Not support liveweight gain unless supplements containing NPN and true protein as RDP are fed

Question 13

What is good weaner paddock management?

Answer 13

Rested over the year to accumulate a good mass of leafy pasture
Not to be sued as holding paddocks/working horses

Question 14

Infrastructure considerations?

Answer 14

Weaners need at least 3 square metres/head
Trough space - without bullying 
Shade
Secure years
Free from predators
Free of toxic plants
No hollow or boggy areas
Stress increases the time for weaners to come onto feed, reduces rumen and GIT efficiency and reduced immune function

Question 15

How should weaners be educated?

Answer 15

Worked calmly through yards
Electric fences help cattle respect fences
Smaller paddocks so it is easier to find water
In large paddocks introduce weaners to water/feed sources

Question 16

Nutritional requirement straight after weaning?

Answer 16

Good quality hay (and supplements) directly after to maintain an actively fermenting rumen (2-3kg each)

Question 17

What happens if you delay feeding up 24hrs after weaning?

Answer 17

Reduces rumen microbial activity and the ability to ferment plant fibre

Question 18

How long can it take for normal rumen function to return after weaning?

Answer 18

3 weeks

Question 19

Why do we segregate weaners into size classes?

Answer 19

To prevent bullying and not getting enough feed

Question 20

What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners under 60kg?

Answer 20

Milk replacer and high-quality baby calf meals/pellets

Question 21

What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners 60-100kg?

Answer 21

Highly palatable calf meals or pellets

Question 22

What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners 100-150kg?

Answer 22

Supplements needed if pasture quality is too poor for required growth

Question 23

What nutrient supplement should be fed to weaners >150kg?

Answer 23

Supplements needed only if pasture quality is too poor for required growth

Question 24

What growth rate do we want in weaners?

Answer 24

100g LWG/day

Question 25

How much CP and ME should the hay have at weaning?

Answer 25

> 9 MJ ME/kg DM and >9% CP

Question 26

What should you supplement with if the hay is poor quality?

Answer 26

Oilseed meals, processed cereal grains and complete mineral premix