What's the best way to 'wean' a 6 month old calf?

[windswepthill]

All of this years calves have been sold. They were born in December 2013, January and February 2014.

The cows are indeed a herd and they are never out of sight of one another.

They are not halter trained and are in the field.

Next weekend the first buyer wants to come and pick up three calves.

Do we just go 'cold turkey', do a round up and ship them off?

I can get them all into a corral pen and selectively release the others.

I am hoping to not have to keep them penned up for very long cause they older cows are pretty smart and know what is up and might even try to break them out!

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[windswepthill]

I had never heard of weaning tabs before now.

Somehow I think trying to restrain the calves and insert one of those things (by myself) would be fairly stressful to all involved.

Once I tried to put a halter on a young calf and it was not pleasant.

Another time I actually did get a halter on one, tied it to a stanchion and the calf about killed itself trying to get loose.

Three of the calves are going together so they will not be alone.

Should I advise the new owners to feed them the medicated calf feed for a few weeks?

[windswepthill]

Today I put the three calves on the other side of the fence.

The other 16 cows just stayed right next to the fence all day lowing like there was a big problem.

The calves did not seem to mind, I think it is just a herd thing.