Okay, more on the easy-weaner today.
Easy-weaner, easy-weaner, easy-weaner!!
Sorry, that is just sooo hilarious. But now that it’s out of my system, let me tell you how we do this. We wean the babies every fall because they have to move on from Mama. When they do, they better be okay with just hay and grain, because there won’t be any milk served. Once we sell them, they are off to their next location, the feed lot.
So in order to get them free from mama’s teet, you can simply separate the cow and calf leaving the cow to wonder what happened to her baby and the calf to wonder where his mom went. This is usually quite stressful on both cow and calf. They both moo and bawl for each other for days. Sometimes, the cows or the calfs organize a mutiny and escape from their pen, leading us on a unexpected and eventful round-up.
Or, instead of having to separate the pair, you can use these nifty contraptions–the easy-weaner. We tried them last year for the first time and we were very happy with the results. The babes get to be with mom–lessening the anxiety between the pair–and they still get weaned. Some rancher was really thinking on these things.
First, we round up all the cows and calfs, then separate the calfs from the cows. We then run the calfs through a squeeze chute.
Justin then inserts the large, hard, plastic, yellow weaner thingy in the nostrils.
And Randy Sue gives them their dose of vaccine.
Then they are all set, ready to go.
We release the calf, and take them back to their mommy. They’ll run to one tit, try to nurse, and have this plastic thing blocking their mouth. So they run to the other side and try another–same result. Frustrating, I’m sure, but at least they can be with mom.
Good Job, Guys! You did it!
