Influence of 48 hour calf separation on milk production and calf growth in range cows

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 367 - 373
• Main Authors: Beck, T.W., Wettemann, R.P., Turman, E.J., Totusek, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.1979
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/0093-691X(79)90060-8

Hereford cows and their calves were either left together or separated for a 48-hr period between 50 and 80 days postpartum. Milk production and calf weights were determined 1 and 2 weeks prior to and 1 and 3 weeks after calf separation. Daily milk production of separated cows (5.6±.1 kg) was not different from that of control cows (5.3±.1 kg) at any sampling period. Similarly, calf growth was not affected (P > .10) by separation; both groups of calves gained .64 kg/day. Average 205-day adjusted weaning weights were also similar, for the control (173.5±4.6 kg) and separated calves (181.8±4.6 kg). These results indicate that 48-hr calf separation could be used in a treatment regime to decrease the postpartum anestrous interval in range cattle without detrimental effects on milk production, calf growth or 205-day adjusted weaning weight.