FullCircleWVa
Well-known member
I would like to get all my cows to be calving on the same time frame mostly for management purposes, but also for natural forage. The saying "you don't know what you don't know" goes a good ways, especially with these cattle. I bought a couple 3n1's in May, not noting their bred date (3 mos bred bought May 26th (SAID IT RIGHT ON THE SALE SHEET )), just seeing a couple nice cow/calf pair and getting excited and tossing my hand up and these two ended up being fall calving (One calved 11/27, other due any time). I also have 4 spring calving cows (April-May based off bull exposure) and plan to add another 2 spring pairs come green up late April/early May. The problem is, I love these two fall calvers, they are both 6 y/o's (got them for calving ease since i'm green).. docile, easy to work, always come up to you in the pasture.. just all around good bovine. The first one calved unassisted, has a good bag, and is a good mother in the fact that she hates dogs yet I tagged and vac'd the calf right beside her with just a few momma moo's. The other cow if no issues with her calving out, I'd like to keep around as well.
I know I can't let emotion fog perception, so I wanted get some direction from some fine folks of CT based off time and experience. I was reading various posts about getting animals to calve with nature, I'd like a spring calving herd.. it aligns good with fall sales and as a beginner I feel that they will be easier to manage as far as vaccination schedules and proper feed for stages of gestation and lactation..
Do I hold these two cows back from the bull until May-June when I put him in with the others, or do I sell them as pairs this spring and buy true spring calving cows? I am leaning on keeping them open for 5 months or so and taking the loss just for the sake of aligning my management practices and keeping good (whats good for me may not be good for you) cattle around. I'm also up to the idea of selling them and buying a couple 3 y/o pairs on a consignment sale..
Thank you for your insight.
FC
I know I can't let emotion fog perception, so I wanted get some direction from some fine folks of CT based off time and experience. I was reading various posts about getting animals to calve with nature, I'd like a spring calving herd.. it aligns good with fall sales and as a beginner I feel that they will be easier to manage as far as vaccination schedules and proper feed for stages of gestation and lactation..
Do I hold these two cows back from the bull until May-June when I put him in with the others, or do I sell them as pairs this spring and buy true spring calving cows? I am leaning on keeping them open for 5 months or so and taking the loss just for the sake of aligning my management practices and keeping good (whats good for me may not be good for you) cattle around. I'm also up to the idea of selling them and buying a couple 3 y/o pairs on a consignment sale..
Thank you for your insight.
FC