[Objective]In order to explore the suitable weaning time of calf, promote the early growth and development of calf and cause the cows to restore as soon as possible, and enter the next breeding cycle. [Method] Twenty 3-month old western hybrid calves with the same size, health and disease-free, similar body weight and the same father and mother were selected as treatment cows. And they were randomly divided into group A and group B, with 10 heads in each group (the same number of males and females). Group A was weaned at 4 months of age after a transitional adaptation of crude weaning concentrate and succulent feed for 1 month, and the succulent concentrate feed was gradually increased according to the growth and development of calves. Group B was raised according to the feeding method of the farm, weaned at 6 months of age. Calves of group A and group B were raised coarse fodder freely after weaning at 6 months old, and fed with fine fodder at 1% of body weight, and weighed at 6, 12 and 18 months old respectively. [Result] The results showed that the average body weight of the calves in group A and group B was 638 kg and 546 kg at 18 months of age, and that in group A was 92.00 kg higher than that in group B (P < 0.01). It indicated that the growth rate later of the calves weaned in early stage is higher than that of calves weaned at the age of 6 months on the premise of meeting nutritional needs. [Conclusion] The early weaning technology of calves is a practical technology that deserves to be promoted in farms and scale farmers. |