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Performance of Early- and Normal-Weaned Beef Calves and Their Dams¹

University of Georgia, College of Agriculture, Coastal Plain Station, Tifton 31793

Abstract

Angus and Polled Hereford calves were weaned at an average of 67 days of age (EW) and fed either a concentrate mix on pasture or a complete diet in drylot until they were approximately 230 days of age. Similar calves (NW) nursed their dams on pasture without creep feed during this period. Male and female calves used in Exp, 1 were from 2-year-old and mature dams. EW calves, male calves and calves from mature dams gained faster from the time of early weaning to the time of normal weaning and weighed more than NW calves, female calves and calves from 2-year-old dams (P<.01). Average daily gains (ADG) and weights at time of normal weaning were higher for EW calves in drylot than for EW calves on pasture (P<.05) and higher (P<.05) for EW calves on pasture than for those NW. Breed differences were not significant for these traits. Feed efficiency of EW calves adjusted for calf weight was not affected by age of dam. In Exp. 2, Angus and Polled Hereford male calves were evaluated. No significant breed effects were observed for ADG from time of early weaning to time of normal weaning or for weight at time of normal weaning, but EW calves gained faster and weighed more at time of normal weaning than NW calves (P<.01). Feed efficiency of EW calves adjusted for calf weight was affected (P<.01) by breed of calf. ADG by dams of EW and NW calves over the two experiments were .62 and .32 kg, respectively (P<.01). At time of normal weaning, the pregnancy percentages for dams of EW and NW calves did not differ (P>.05). The year after early weaning, dams of EW calves calved 6 to 7 days later (P<.05) than dams of NW calves, and their progeny had higher (P<.01) 205-day normal weaned calf weights than the progeny of dams that had weaned their calves normally the year before.

¹ Supported by State and Hatch funds allocated to the Georgia Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. B. G. Mullinix, Jr., who conducted the statistical analyses.