09/19/07 Nose flaps I

Being able to work is a truly beautiful gift, but some jobs can be stressful. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to talk about one stressful job that can get better. Calf weaning time can be stressful to the calves, cows, fences, owners and cause extra work for cowboys, dogs and horses. Generally the cows and calves are rounded up and the calves are hauled away from the cows and put in pens where they walk the fences until they become more interested in eating than getting back with the cowherd. This time of stress is a perfect time for the calves to become sick with respiratory or digestive problems. Treating those illnesses is time consuming and costly, so more and more study has been devoted to separating cows and calves as easy as possible. Some managers only weaned at the right time of the moon, others hoped their corrals wouldn't get too dusty or too wet from an untimely rain or snowstorm. One different management practice that has been tired lately is fenceline weaning, where cows and calves are separated by a fence but are still in the same general area and on the same basic feeds. Vaccinating calves for various illnesses while they are still with their mothers helps the calf start building immunity to sickness before they are actually weaned. Most research indicates keeping calves healthy from the start is a big plus for later production. I just read about a new adaptation of an old gadget that may be a big help in low stress weaning. I'll tell you about it tomorrow. I'm Jeff Keane.