Fenceline weaning means that the cows and calves are seperated by a fence while the calves are getting used to not nursing their dams. Traditional weaning involves physical and visual seperation. The theory here is that giving up nursing is a lot less stressful on the calf when they have the comfort of momma close by. We keep the cows in a large paddock feeding them hay while the calves remain on the surrounding pasture, which is a familiar setting and feed source for them. The calves go right back to grazing and will come up to the fence a couple of times/day to check in with mom. In general, the stress seems greatly reduced and the calves spend most of their time grazing. In addition, the calves are not confined to a dry, dusty lot which would increase the risk of respiratory disease development. After 3 or 4 days like this, the calves quit coming to the pen, the cows have forgotten all about their calves and we then move the cows back out onto range. The calves are ready to continue grazing (fall born calves weaned in June or early weaned spring calves) or come to the lot to start on concentrates (spring born calves weaned in the fall).
Mike Hall (herdsman) & Joe Carpenter ride out to gather the herd in for sorting on weaning day.
We've sorted calves away from the cows and Joe pushes the sorted calves back out of the gate onto the pasture..
The weaned calves back out on brome. They had a familiar place (they'd been there with their mothers for 2 days prior), familiar feed (brome grass) and plenty of fresh running water.
The mommas in dry lot following a truck unrolling a hay bale. We fenced a high-tensile pen that included plenty of trees for shade so that we can wean regardless of the weather. Note that you can see one calf in the distance. Mostly, they spent their time across the creek grazing. At any one time, there might be a dozen over by the cows' pen. Even those would typically be laying there chewing their cud. Very little stress at all!