The objective of this Univ. of Florida/USDA study was to examine the effects of pre-weaning management strategies on the 30-day performance of weaned calves after being transported for 24 hrs. Sixty-four Brahman x British cross steers were allotted to one of four treatments: 1) Control (weaned directly onto truck); 2) Creep-fed (free-choice creep feed for 45 days before weaning); 3) Pre-weaned (weaned 45 days prior to transport); or 4) Early-weaned (weaned at 80 days of age). Calves were weaned on day 0 and trucked for 24 hrs. to the feedyard. Calves were then fed free-choice hay and a commercial grain starter during the 30-day receiving period.

• Avg. body wt. (BW) gain was greater for Early-weaned than for Control calves.
• Avg. BW gain did not differ between Pre-weaned and Creep-fed calves, but both tended to be greater than Controls.
• Dry matter intake (DMI) was greater for Early-weaned than for Control calves.
• DMI did not differ between Creep-fed and Pre-weaned calves, but both were greater than Controls.
• Feed efficiency (gain/feed) was greater for Early-weaned than for Control calves, but did not differ among Creep-fed, Pre-weaned, and Controls.