High fuel and feed costs are pressuring beef producers´ bottom line, but there are options to help relieve the financial pressure, a Kansas State University researcher said.

"Early weaning is a cost-control strategy that beef producers might consider," said K.C. Olson, who is a cow/calf nutrition specialist with K-State Research and Extension.

Speaking at K-State´s Beef Conference held recently in Manhattan, Olson said that producers may think of early weaning as a last resort. But, a better approach might be to consider the strategy before the situation is dire.

"Economic damage is almost certain when decision-making is delayed," he said. "The decision to wean early, for example, is most often made when the cow is perilously thin and feed costs are out of control."

Early weaned calves are no more prone to health, nutritional, or environmental problems than calves in conventional weaning programs, Olson said. And, there are well-established benefits in terms of calf performance, forage conservation and reduced nutrient requirements for cows.

Weaning calves earlier than usual—at 30 to 150 days of age, rather than the more typical 240 days—takes them off of pastures, which both reduces the stocking rate and halts lactation in the cows. In turn, halting lactation earlier trims a cow´s nutritional needs and, therefore, its forage needs earlier.

Because calves are functionally monograstric at birth, some producers may have concerns about whether a calf´s rumen can handle grain consumption early in life. But, studies have indicated that the rumen develops as it needs to, Olson said.

Beyond that, the things to think about when it comes to managing early-weaned calves are the same things a producer should plan for in traditional operations.

Vaccination, parasite control, stress management, disease monitoring and treatment, diet composition and intake management are all important with early-weaned calves—just as they are for later-weaned animals, the researcher said. Considerations for pen layout, sanitation and animal comfort are still necessary, too.

"All aspects of the nutritional management of early-weaned cattle should be geared toward encouraging dry matter intake," he said, noting that this also is one of the biggest challenges: "Overcoming the reluctance to eat is arguably the most important aspect of weaning management."

Early-weaned calves are even more selective about what they´ll eat than traditionally-weaned calves are. This makes the composition of feed critical to a successful transition, he said. Palatability factors—moisture content, particle size and ingredients—are all key to the process.

A clean and abundant water supply is also important.

"Early-weaned calves are small, compared to calves weaned at conventional age," warned Olson, who told conference attendees that he´d seen plenty of cattle-watering devices that were the proper height for 600-pound calves, but not for 400-pound calves.

Because calves are not accustomed to eating from bunks, he suggested that producers place an extra feed bunk and watering device in calf pens, perpendicular to the normal feed bunk. When calves circle the pen, they will encounter the feeding and watering devices.

"Once a few calves encounter and use bunks and waterers, those behaviors will transfer quickly from one individual to another within the pen," he said.