38 Effects of combining nose flap weaning with short-term creep feeding of beef calves on cow and calf performance

One hundred four Angus calves were ranked by gender, BW, age, and dam parity, and assigned to 1 of 4 pre-weaning treatments: 1) nose flaps for 7-d prior to weaning (NF), 2) traditional weaning (TRAD), 3) traditional weaning and creep feed for 3-wk prior to weaning (TRADC), or 4) nose flaps for 7-d prior to weaning and creep feed for 3-wk prior to weaning (NFC). Cow-calf pairs were housed in dry lot pens on d -28. From d -21 to 0, calves in creep treatments were provided free choice access to creep feed. Nose flaps were placed on d -7, and calves were weaned on d 0. Calves were vaccinated and dewormed on d -21 and 0. There was no difference (P ≥ 0.97) in calf BW on d -28 or -21. During the 7-d period that nose flaps were placed, NFC calves had greater (P ≤ 0.0001) ADG than NF and TRAD calves, and tended to have greater (P ≤ 0.10) ADG than TRADC calves. At weaning on d 0, TRADC and NFC calves tended to have greater BW (P = 0.07) and had greater overall change in BW (P < 0.0001) during the pre-weaning period than TRAD and NF calves. Additionally, there was a greater (P ≤ 0.001) increase in BW of NFC and TRADC cows during the pre-weaning period compared to NF and TRAD cows. From d -21 to 0 there was no differences (P > 0.41) in plasma concentrations for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVD). By d 14, the TRADC calves had the greatest plasma concentrations for BVD (P < 0.04). Therefore, providing short-term creep feed prior to placing nose flaps can improve pre-weaning calf and cow performance compared to traditional and nose flap weaning without creep feed supplementation, however, did not improve response to vaccination.