Most ranchers wean their calves at a specific time each year.
However, a rancher should study the feeder calf market, evaluate the condition of his cows and pastures, and then wean and market calves to maximize profits. Florida ranchers wean fall-born calves from June to September at ages ranging from 6 to 10 months. To maintain a good calf crop and high weaning weights the following guidelines are offered on the age to wean fall-born calves. Weaning calves earlier will allow thin cows to regain body condition and go into the next calving and breeding seasons with a better chance to rebreed, and will probably wean a heavier calf. Calves nursing thin cows and grazed on poor pasture will have low weaning weights regardless of how long they remain on the cow.