Effects of weaning on body condition recovery and calf performance in previously nutritionally restricted cow-calf pairs

摘要

Drought, defined as less than 75% of normal rainfall, occurs once every 5 to 7 years inNorthwest Kansas. Record widespread drought conditions throughout the Midwestand Western United States in 2012 resulted in an early reduction in forage quality andavailability. In these situations, cow-calf producers are faced with deciding how to adaptto the conditions. Some producers may be unprepared for the speed at which cows canlose body condition in the face of declining pasture conditions and how much it takesto regain body condition.Early weaning is one option that can improve a cow’s nutritional status, conserveforage, and delay the need for supplementation. The price slide between lightweightearly weaned calves and heavier calves is an important factor in the economic outcomeof that decision. Feed use and cow and calf performance data are needed to evaluateproduction and economic differences between early and normal weaning scenarios. Theobjective of this study was to quantify intake differences between dry and lactating cowsthat had previously been nutritionally restricted and measure feed consumed by calvesstill nursing dams.