Weaning Date for Spring Calving Cows Grazing Sandhills Range

Authors

Lane Ciminski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Don C. Adams, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Dick Clark, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Andy Applegarth, Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NebraskaFollow
Jacqueline A. Musgrave, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Russ Sandberg, West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Date of this Version

1-1-2002

Comments

Published in 2002 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2001 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A two-year experiment was conducted with March calving cows to determine the effect of the weaning date on cow body condition score, cow body weight, and calf body weight. Treatments were of eight weaning dates imposed at consecutive two-week intervals, beginning in mid-August and ending in late November. Cow body condition score declined linearly as weaning date was later in the fall. Calf body weight gains from August through November increased with weaning dates from August 18 through October 13; however, weaning after October 13 provided no advantage of increased calf body weight gain.