Reality of Weaning Calves - Do Wean Rings Work? Red Devon Cattle

Join me today as I talk about a recent failed calf weaning attempt and how my views on weaning have changed since we started with our Red Devon cattle.
*This is OUR experience. Please feel free to disagree and comment, critique is welcome, but know every farm is different with varying circumstances. CONTEXT is key.
Link to wean rings: a.co/d/hHoucLe
**Please see our video published May 22, 2024 for an update on this wean ring and our calf!!

[@kitdriscoll1288]

Amazing. I turned my phone on and didn't click on a thing... your video came up and started playing within a minute of it posting. This brings me back to things the Lord has shown me several times in dreams over the last 19 years. Bless you!❤🙏

[@birchfieldfarming]

Bless you as well❤️

[@kitdriscoll1288]

Isaiah 43:11-21 [11]I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. [12]I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. [13]Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? [14]Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. [15]I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. [16]Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; [17]Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. [18]Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. [19]Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. [20]The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. [21]This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

[@kitdriscoll1288]

I wanted to post the scripture here so I can screenshot it and remember. ❤

[@user-kv2pt4lu9y]

Great job knowing your context and managing well within those contexts! Blessings!

[@birchfieldfarming]

Hey thanks, Marilou! You should know that if you hadn’t sent me the photo, this video wouldn’t exist! Thank you for blessing others with your dairy knowledge and experience.

[@user-kv2pt4lu9y]

You are welcome! That is the style we started with. If an animal "lost" that style, we had the vet pierce and install the other type. The little screw on the other type is so very easy to fumble! Folks: be aware there are at least 2 sizes in each of the pinch, as seen here, and pierce styles.

[@user-kv2pt4lu9y]

Dad always tried to keep a few on hand. With about 1500 head of cattle on the farm, we used them often enough. They were some of what were in stock. If you ever spot an enlarged quarter on an animal, especially youngstock, you likely gave a sucker in that pen.

[@birchfieldfarming]

@@user-kv2pt4lu9y1500 head!…I can’t imagine!

[@user-kv2pt4lu9y]

@@birchfieldfarming that included all ages. 750 milking. 3x milking. Shut down to wash 3x/day. When dad "retired," my brothers changed to some new-to-them crops and switched to beefers fed tmr in old pens with stalls ripped out and a bedding pack. I would love to see them go regen, but not holding my breath. Both brothers and 2 of 4 nephews are addicted to large metal "horses"!

[@tommartin8155]

Very interesting Jason. Learning all the time.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thanks, Tom

[@Marcus-hw5il]

you have an impressive ability to answer the question i’m wondering as i’m wondering it. thanks for explaining why you would wean. gotta breed back once per year

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thanks, Marcus. That’s how I’m attempting to add value to the content - an authentic presentation of what we see and have experienced here with getting things started. Yes, exactly - it’s that next breed back that’s key, and she has to have proper condition to perform.

[@lauraandrade7909]

We used the same kind of weaning ring with great success as well! I will tell you we had to tighten it a few times... but within 30 days our heifer was fully weaned from mama! And as you notice much lower stress!!

[@birchfieldfarming]

Great info here, thanks!🤠

[@benburns5995]

Hi Jason, I never saw one of those Wean Rings before but it seems like a pretty good design to keep the calf from nursing. Those spikes would have to be pretty uncomfortable for Mama Cow.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Seems to be working out. I’m out here now checking on everyone at dusk. It’s still in here just fine about 3+ days out. I’ll def try them again!

[@Plan_it-Farm]

You are a fine example my friend thank you keep on keeping on. Thank you for this content. I have a few Red devons as well and found the same thing I have cattle that self ween then I have a few that do not at all. At a small scale like myself, I cant just cull everyone out who isn't perfect. Are you a full-time farmer? I'm still working an in-town job hoping in about 5 years I can make the transition but well see got a long way to go. thank you again god bless.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thank you for the encouragement! Great to hear from another Devon farmer! Yes, the farm is my main gig. Nothing wrong with working in town to get things set up and moving. I tell my wife it’s like trying to push a freight train at times - once you get it going though you’ve got momentum. Stay in touch, friend.

[@Plan_it-Farm]

@@birchfieldfarming Will do I watch every video you put out there. Sure does feel like pushing a train I think the wheels are finally moving for me though I will be a solid 5 more years until I am completely out of debt and can consider full-time farming. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@dnawormcastings]

What great idea for calves less stress on there cows 🇳🇿🙏🏼

[@birchfieldfarming]

Seems to be working out.👍🐄

[@StephenG222]

Great info! Interesting how that works. One would think he would knock that off some how?

[@birchfieldfarming]

Man, between the long grass tangling up in it and his intensity after milk, I never would’ve thought it would hold. Still in there when we moved earlier today!

[@Aaronfitz5]

🙏 Good man respect the animal

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thanks🍻