Producers weigh in on weaning, preg-checking and more

Earlier this year we asked you to participate in the industry’s Canadian Cow-Calf Survey. Knowing which production practices producers are adopting in different regions of the country, which they aren’t (and why) helps us target our producer-focused extension efforts better. The official report isn’t out yet, but here’s a sneak peek at some seasonally relevant results. What We Did 600 producers (managing 95,100 breeding females) responded to our online survey between November 2023 and March 2024. They represent 3% of Canada’s cow herd. For reference, national consumer or voter polls typically target 1,000 to 1,500 responses (about 0.0025% of 39 million Canadians). What We Learned Low-stress weaning is becoming more popular in Central and Eastern Canada. The multiple stresses associated with weaning weaken the calf’s immune system and make it more susceptible to BRD. Low stress (e.g., two-stage, fenceline or natural) weaned calves spend less time walking and bawling, and more time res