View From the Range           09/25 08:09

   Alberta Ranch Lets Nature Lead Weaning Time

   Cross Cattle Company weans calves based on grass, weather and feed 
conditions, using low-stress practices, then backgrounds calves while 
evaluating performance and future breeding potential.

Jennifer Carrico
DTN Senior Livestock Editor

   REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Fall at Cross Cattle Company means it's time to wean 
calves and see how well the cattle performed for the year.

   The Cross family owns Cross Cattle Company in Claresholm, Alberta, Canada, 
and is participating in DTN's View From the Range series, where DTN follows a 
year at the ranch to give readers an inside look at how the ranch operates and 
cares for its animals.

   This segment of the series looks at what happens on the ranch when weaning 
time comes around and how cattle are managed after the calves are separated 
from the cows.

   CONDITIONS DETERMINE WEANING TIME

   "We typically wean calves in mid-October, but since we don't sell our calves 
after weaning, we really don't have a specific time it needs done," said Austin 
Cross, who runs the operation with his brother Malcolm. "We rely on the 
environment to tell us when to wean."

   If the year has had ample rain and grass is available, they might wean 
calves later, but if they are short on grass, they can wean earlier. Weather 
and feed availability are the main factors the Crosses use when determining 
when to wean.

   About two weeks prior to weaning, they will gradually move pairs closer to 
home and start feeding cows to teach the calves how to eat grain. 

   "If they see mom eating, they learn a lot faster to eat feed," he said. 
"This is when we also will check all the corral fences to make sure they are in 
good shape because we don't want anyone escaping."

   The Crosses discuss their weaning plan with their neighbors since everyone 
helps each other on their ranches to make weaning day go smoothly. Austin said 
the Crosses have more flexibility than their neighbors because they retain 
their calves rather than selling them immediately after weaning.

   LOW-STRESS WEANING DAY MANAGEMENT 

   On weaning day at Cross Cattle Company, all the cows and calves are gathered 
at the main corral and sorted within an hour and a half. The corral is designed 
for weaning day to make it easy to split the cows off and send them back out to 
pasture. 

   Calves are vaccinated, dewormed and given FerAppease, a topically applied 
stress-reducing product that mimics the natural calming pheromones a nursing 
cow produces. Austin said this product has made such a difference at weaning 
time, reducing the time calves walk and bawl and getting them through the 
stressful time much easier. 

   Since the calves were already introduced to feed, they tend to start eating 
faster. They will use creep feeders at times, depending on the size of the calf 
and how aggressive they are to the feed. After five to seven days in the 
corral, they can watch the calves closely for any health issues. The calves are 
sent back to grass, where they continue to feed them additional feed as well. 

   "Depending on how much grass we have available is what tends to determine 
how much feed they eat," he explained. "Having the calves on grass can save us 
20%-30% on other feed inputs, yet they are still gaining."

   BACKGROUNDING CALVES FOR FUTURE PERFORMANCE

   The calves are left in one big group for the first 45 days. Then they are 
brought back to the corral and sometimes need to be revaccinated or treated if 
any are slow or sick. At this time, they sort off the smaller calves so they 
can be fed harder to catch up with the group. This is also when heifers are 
split from steers.

   "Since we background all our calves, we don't have to choose which heifers 
we will keep as replacements until they are about a year old," Austin said. 
"Then we can study how they have done after weaning and know what their 
mother's history is. It gets us a higher-performing animal in the end. 

   "Every herd would be a little better if the breeder gives the heifers a 
chance to perform in their environment. Weaning isn't too stressful here, but 
the climate can change quickly, and we have to be prepared," he concluded.

   Successful weaning on the Alberta ranch is when the environment and weather 
work on their side, and they have enough grass and water to provide for all the 
animals.

   **

   Read previous stories in the series here:

   -- "Alberta's Cross Family Will Offer Canadian View From the Range for DTN," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/farm-life/article/2026/01/23/alber
tas-cross-family-will-offer-dtn

   -- "From Calgary Stampede Co-Founder to Modern Ranch: Inside Cross Cattle 
Company's 140-Year Angus Legacy," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/farm-life/article/2026/02/27/calga
ry-stampede-co-founder-modern

   -- "Alberta Ranch Builds Herd to Thrive in Rugged Terrain," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/livestock/article/2026/03/27/alberta-ra
nch-builds-herd-thrive

   -- "Wintery Spring Storms Test Alberta Ranchers During Calving Season," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/livestock/article/2026/04/24/wintry-spr
ing-storms-test-alberta

   -- "Alberta Ranchers Rely on 40-Year Seedstock Partnership," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/farm-life/article/2026/05/29/alber
ta-ranchers-rely-40-year

   -- "Alberta Ranchers Balance Homegrown Hay and Purchased Feed to Stretch 
Grazing Season," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/columns/washington-insider/article/2026
/06/26/alberta-ranchers-balance-homegrown

   -- "Alberta Ranch Focuses on Cattle Health to Preserve Genetics," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/AG/livestock/article/2026/08/03/alberta-ra
nch-focuses-cattle-health

   -- "Native Grasses and Water are Essential for Alberta Cow Herd," 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/farm-life/article/2026/08/28/nativ
e-grasses-water-essential-cow

   Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

   Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal




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