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Effect Of Weaning Date On Performance Of Beef Cows, R. J. Pruitt, P. A. Momont

South Dakota Beef Report, 1994

Records from 92 mature crossbred cows calving in March and April were used to determine the effect of weaning calves 40 days earlier than the traditional weaning time on cow weight change, body condition, and reproductive performance. When calves were weaned early (September 14 versus October 231, their dams gained more weight from September 14 to early December and had higher body condition scores in December than the dams of later weaned calves. The two nutritional treaments imposed after calving were important in explaining the effects of earlier weaning on cow reproductive performance. For cows that were fed grass hay …