Beginning The Weaning Process

Three bull calves have had the plastic green weaners inserted into their nostrils (the third one moved too quickly to get a pic). These three are the largest bulls from this years crop and weigh over 700 lbs each, it is time for them to be weaned from their mothers.

The new jewelry does not hurt the calves in any way. They can still eat hay and drink water normally. The only thing that they cannot do is nurse because the green ring gets in the way.
This is a non-stressful way of weaning the calves since they are in the same field as their mothers.  The mothers can lick them and give them comfort while the milk supply dries up. They have all their calf companions nearby.
After three or four days, we can move the calves away from the mother cows completely and put them in a pen where they have all the hay, grain, apples and water they want. We will also remove the green weaner since it will no longer be needed.
This is by far the best weaning method we have found. There is no frantic pacing of fence lines or broken fences. No sorrowful bellowing from the calves or the cows. No squeaking from horse calves.