Maximizing Weaning Success with Anti-Suckling Devices featuring Craig Gifford
Weaning can be a stressful period for livestock and humans but making the extra effort to reduce stress on calves can lead to increased performance in the form of less illness and increased weight gain. Craig Gifford – Beef Extension Specialist at New Mexico State University – shared how the use of anti-suckling devices in combination with fence line weaning could be one method of reducing stress on calves during the weaning period.
Anti-suckling devices are flaps or rings that are attached to the nostrils of calves and remove their ability to nurse, but still allow all other forms of contact with their dam. At this point in the calf’s life, they are already eating other feed sources and drinking water on their own. The process of using this procedure takes at least two steps. The first step is implementing the devices and the second is weaning. “I’ve seen varying timeframes for this procedure depending on the operation and research but typically you would gather your calves, put in the nose flaps and then put everything back together for four, six or even up to twenty-eight days. Then you start step two which includes re-gathering, removing the nose flaps and weaning calves from their mothers,” said Gifford. A ballpark cost for these devices is around three dollars and they can be re-used the next year. However, cattle producers need to account for a ten to thirty percent loss of devices that fall out.
How much stress is reduced for cattle depends on the breed and ranch. Different studies are showing different results. “There are a couple of theories in scientific literature that you aren’t reducing the stress and instead are just spreading it out over time. There are also studies coming out of Brazil with Bos Indicus cattle that show increased stress due to lesions forming in the nose. So, like any weaning situation, it all depends on multiple different variables,” said Gifford.
Rate of gain is also impacted by weaning procedures. Anti-suckling devices used in combination with fence line weaning show an increased rate of gain after weaning compared to calves that have not gone through this process. “I’m hesitant to extend this to a formal publication, because a lot of what we’ve done is summarize the data from our own experiments and others out there. However, calves who had nose flaps had reduced gains during phase one but had increased gains anywhere from a half a pound to a pound per day during phase two. Some ranches are using these and report overall increased gains and better health,” said Gifford.
Which weaning strategy will be most effective on your operation might not be the same as your neighbors’. “When you look at picking your weaning strategy, you need to know how you are marketing your calves. The two biggest things we focus on during weaning are health and gains. Now, how do you get paid back for the effort you put into increasing your gains and health?,” said Gifford.
Ultimately, when it comes down to reducing stress on calves during the weaning period, Gifford recommends doing as much as possible before weaning. This could be de-horning, castrating or any other activity that will add stress to that calf. The best method for weaning will depend entirely on your operations goals, resources, limitations and marketing strategies. Take some time to think about what will be best for the cattle and still be in line with your overall goals.
Craig Gifford joined NMSU as the Beef Cattle Extension Specialist in July 2016. Craig received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from the University of Wyoming and M.S. degree in Animal Physiology from NMSU. He then went to the University of Idaho for a Ph.D. in Animal Physiology. Craig’s Extension program goals are to increase profitability and sustainability of New Mexico ranches, and he also maintains a research program which focuses on improving reproductive technologies and animal health in beef cattle.
