10 month calving interval?

[WAguy]

I think I saw someone mention that somewhere and I've been pondering. I assume that means a calf born every 10 months.

Is that possible? Isn't gestation over 9 months + time to start cycling? And is it good for a cow to breed back so soon? Also, how does that work with any kind of calving season? Or perhaps in some climates you don't need to calve a certain time of the year?

Seems a nice idea if it would work - maybe get a bonus calf from a cow over its lifetime.

I have a cow that was born in October of '03. First calf July 20, 2005, second was June 5, 2006, third on May 16, 2007. Of course, I use smaller bulls to make it easy on her. If I tried harder, I bet I could cycle the calendar in the next 7-8 years, but don't know if I want calves in winter.

 

[KNERSIE]

although its possible to get a cow or two that would calve 10 months after she had her previous calf, it isn't a sustainable practice.

With the gestation period of cattle being 283 days or roughly 9 months and 10 days it means that a cow needs to breed back 20 days after calving to calve every 10 months. Although not impossible (i've had a cow breeding back at 17 days after she calved, once) is not very likely.

If you have a very mild climate and good grazing year round leaving the bull in 365 days of the year will likely result in an average ICP of around 11 months and with good recordholding that can be beneficial, but if you don't have good grazing year round its better to plan your calving season to be in synchwith your forage flow

 

[sidney411]

we regurally have cows calving in a 10 mth cycle. It is generally the older cows in the herd. I'd say about 5-10% of our herd calves at 10 mts and another 40-50% calve at 11 mts.

 

[msscamp]

I think I saw someone mention that somewhere and I've been pondering. I assume that means a calf born every 10 months.

I'm thinking you're right.

Is that possible?

From a very basic view of nature - yes, it is possible - but why would you want to subject your cattle to that kind of stress?

Isn't gestation over 9 months + time to start cycling?

Yes, gestation is generally 9 months and a few days for most breeds - but can vary from breed to breed. Post-partum cattle generally come back into heat anywhere from 21-45 days, depending on their body condition and other variables.

And is it good for a cow to breed back so soon? Also, how does that work with any kind of calving season? Or perhaps in some climates you don't need to calve a certain time of the year?

No, it isn't. It also doesn't fit into any calving season, except for a year-round one. From what I've read on these boards, it doesn't have so much to do with climates as with the owners preferences.

Seems a nice idea if it would work - maybe get a bonus calf from a cow over its lifetime.

I, personally, wouldn't even consider it - too much stress and hardship on the cattle. Another factor for me is that I prefer a set calving season.

 

[mnmtranching]

If you have a herd of cows and let the bulls with them year around, you will get some cows to breed 10-11 months. Those cows that do breed will likely average back to 1 calf per 12 months. With the stress of raising 2 calves in a 20 month span, will likely cause her to cycle at 13-14 months a few times in her lifetime.

 

[Brandonm2]

It is definitely possible. My grandfather did it with a ~960 pound black baldie for about 15 calves. She always bred on a really pronounced "foal heat" just a few days after calving. Now can you reproduce that with numbers? It means year round calving. His little experiment cow had July calves, December calves you name it. I have hauled her steer calf off in a trailer by himself before because he was 4-5 months older than the other calves. Since those kinds of cows DO happen naturally, somebody who is a lot more knowledgable than me COULD "in theory" duplicate that using estrus synchronization. I don't know if the conception rate would be 70%, 50%, or 30% but I think that IF you wanted to do it you could; but you would be jumping from winter calving to spring calving to summer calving to fall calving to winter calving.

 

[WAguy]

I can understand wanting to have calving a certain time of year. But if that doesn't matter, sounds like you could do it.

You mention "stress and hardship" on the cow. What exactly do you mean? If she's on good feed and in good condition, what is the problem? I've had problems trying to keep my couple of cows from getting too fat, even being part dairy and milking them.

Of course, I like using small bulls to make it easy on them. Isn't it true that the easier the calving, the sooner they start cycling?