weaning (redirected from weaning age)

weaning,

n the period of transition from breast feeding to eating solid foods.

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weaning

the act of separating the young from the dam that it has been sucking, or receiving a milk diet provided by the dam or from artificial sources.

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weaning age

the average age at which groups of lambs, calves or piglets are weaned off milk, which may be provided by the dam or by artificial means. In pastured animals the age is that at which the young animals are judged to be able to survive on their own by grazing, say 4 to 6 months. In intensive farming systems where good quality, well-balanced diets can be fed, and the young kept under close surveillance, early weaning is practiced successfully. Also modern farming methods demand early weaning so that the dams are again available for mating. Dairy calves, sucking pigs and some lambs are now weaned at 2 to 7 days after birth. Under natural conditions more normal weaning ages, though still subject to a great deal of variation are: calves—4 to 6 months; lambs, goat kids—8 to 10 weeks; piglets—30 to 60 days; foals—5 to 6 months; puppies—6 to 8 weeks; kittens—7 to 8 weeks.

early weaning

weaning before the young have begun to take significant amounts of alternative diets, e.g. piglets at 3 weeks of age. Usually because of a shortage of feed for the dam, or because of the need to increase the number of young produced per female per year. Segregated early weaning of pigs is a practice to reduce the transmission of disease from sow to offspring. Piglets are removed from the sow at 10 to 14 days of age and subsequently reared in a separate environment. Medicated early weaning of pigs is similar to segregated early weaning except the sow and litter are medicated with an antimicrobial active against a specific bacteria whose transmission from sow to piglet is being targeted.

weaning weight

the weight of the young at weaning. Used as a target for young food animals raised for commercial purposes and is an expression of the size at which the young are capable of leading an independent existence. In calves, in particular, the age is related to the development of adequate rumen function. Adjusted weaning weight in beef cattle is the weight immediately at weaning adjusted to 205 days of age and to mature dam age equivalence.