In November mine all go through the chute, cows and calves get poured and shots. Cows get preg checked. Coming out of the chute, cows go to the right calves to the left and are fenceline weaned for about 30 days. Then each group goes its way for the winter.

Everyone stays healthy this way, imho.  Bawling is minimal and over in a day or two as long as they can see each other across the fence. Calves get acclimated to hay and an occasional bucket of sweet complete calf feed in the corral bunks.

Maybe this is not possible in a larger western operation but it does seem to produce good calves that should be worth a premium at the sale.

Jim