Breeding cows back 35 days post/calf

[Stepper]

I would like for my calfing season to only last for 45 days next year. I only had 9 heifers and 8 of them have calfed out so far. The last calf born was born 47 days from the first one.

I have one more heifer left that has not had her calf yet. I was thinking about going ahead and letting these two late calfers breed back in their first heat which should be in 35 to 40 days from when they had their calf to move them up a little on calfing next Spring.

They would not have long to heal and clean up but i was wondering what some of you thought about breeding a cow back so soon ?

 

[bigbull338]

I would like for my calfing season to only last for 45 days next year. I only had 9 heifers and 8 of them have calfed out so far. The last calf born was born 47 days from the first one.

I have one more heifer left that has not had her calf yet. I was thinking about going ahead and letting these two late calfers breed back in their first heat which should be in 35 to 40 days from when they had their calf to move them up a little on calfing next Spring.

They would not have long to heal and clean up but i was wondering what some of you thought about breeding a cow back so soon ?

yes you can start trying to get them to breed back 35 days after calving.if your going to a 45 day calving.if they are cycling gives you 4 chances to get them bred in 80 days.

 

[dun]

If they settle and maintaine the pregnancy it wasn;t too soon.

dun

 

[Stepper]

I know that dun. But am i pushing things or should i give them more time in your opinion ?

 

[Stepper]

Ok, I done an extensive search here on the forum and from what i can tell. I should wait at least 45 days after the heifer has had her calf before letting her breed back. Any time before that and i would be taken a risk of her uterus not being completey healed up and she could possibly get bred but might abort causing her to take longer to get bred back and maintaining a pregnancy. Right ? 8)

I know dun and randiliana you think i am a moreon because you have already answered this question for me before. But i have been reading so many things on here i must have missed it the first time arround. But i think i have got it now. ;-)

Although these late calfers are going to make it hard on me next Spring. :x And if they were not 3 of my better looking cows and throw such good looking calfs. I would send them down the road. But i guess that is just part of the cattle bussiness. :roll:

I am a firm beleaver in doing things right the first time arround so i am diffinately going to make it a practice to wait at least 45 days before breeding any of my cows back. 8)

 

[milkmaid]

If they don't cycle and/or settle, that's their way of telling you they need some more time before breeding. On the other hand, if they'll settle that soon after calving, they certainly healed up and cleaned up just fine, and they didn't need any extra time. Give it a try -- at best you'll get them moved up in next year's calving season, at worst they'll breed back late like they would have had you done things normally, and they'll get culled this year or next.

 

[milkmaid]

A lot of how soon they cycle post-calving is related to their management prior to and after calving. Pfizer has a schedule for dairies that's called the "100 day contract" -- the 30 days prior to calving and the 70 days after calving to breeding. Nutrition, fresh cow care, how quickly they shed the afterbirth, etc, are all involved in the reproductive tract returning to normal and getting ready for the next pregnancy. I've seen well-managed, fertile cows running with a bull that bred back 7-30 days after calving. I've seen cows have twins and breed back 30 days after calving - and settle. Most of how soon they'll rebreed is related to management.

IMO I'd run them with a bull if you have one and try to get them bred back as soon as possible, but that's JMHO. I'm used to working with and running dairy stock, and we do things a little different than the beef folks usually do. ;-)

 

[msscamp]

I should wait at least 45 days after the heifer has had her calf before letting her breed back. Any time before that and i would be taken a risk of her uterus not being completey healed up and she could possibly get bred but might abort causing her to take longer to get bred back and maintaining a pregnancy. Right ? 8)

No. When our's were bred depended on when they calved in relation to turning the bull out for the next breeding season. We calved mid March to mid May, the bull went out the first part of June. A number of them bred back on their first heat following calving(21-45 days), and we had no problems with them settling or maintaining their pregnancy. Turn your bull out according to when you want your heifers to calve. If you want a specific number of days in your calving season, and they don't settle within that time frame - cull 'em.

 

[dun]

Many years ago we tried to move some of our cows up by breeding them early. Some settled and carried the pregnancy just fine. That was the majority of them. Some appeared to settle, skipped a heat and came back in, some just came back in without conceiving. That's the buggaboo about trying to move them up too much in one jump. Those that appear to settle then come back in will be later next year.

dun

 

[Stepper]

I am going to go ahead and give each cow at least 45 days before tring to breed them back. I was planning on waiting until the end of April anyway before tring to get them bred back. It wont be to much longer of a wait on the last three anyway.

 

[msscamp]

That is your choice, and I don't see anything wrong with your decision.

 

[Stepper]

Thanks msscamp. I had no idea there were so many things that a person had to consider when raising cattle. I mean some of the decisions a cattle farmer has to make are ones that can make him or break him.

And some of the decisions you dont have long to think about. Just like for instance wether or not to pull a calf. You had better made the right one there or you could lose alot of money in just a couple of hours. Then theres the decision of when to spray your hay feilds. You do it to soon and you have wasted alot of money on time, desil, fuel, chemical etc...., and you still have alot of the weeds, bad grasses that you were tring to get rid of still growing.

You go to cut hay you have to decide weather or not you think you can get it cut and bailed without getting it rained on.

Heck i could go on and on about making decisions. And the decisions a cattle farmer has to make can cost him alot of money quick if he makes the wrong ones.

I have a altogether new respect for cattle farmers. There is alot more to it than most people realize. And if someone thinks there isnt. They just need to jump in with both feet and see just how well of a decision maker they think they really are.

 

[msscamp]

You're absolutely right, Stepper. For what it's worth, you've come a long way!

 

[Stepper]

Well thank you msscamp. But i still have along ways to go to.

 

[msscamp]

Don't we all? ;-) :lol: :lol:

 

[Cowdirt]

Thanks msscamp. I had no idea there were so many things that a person had to consider when raising cattle. I mean some of the decisions a cattle farmer has to make are ones that can make him or break him.

And some of the decisions you dont have long to think about. Just like for instance wether or not to pull a calf. You had better made the right one there or you could lose alot of money in just a couple of hours. Then theres the decision of when to spray your hay feilds. You do it to soon and you have wasted alot of money on time, desil, fuel, chemical etc...., and you still have alot of the weeds, bad grasses that you were tring to get rid of still growing.

You go to cut hay you have to decide weather or not you think you can get it cut and bailed without getting it rained on.

Heck i could go on and on about making decisions. And the decisions a cattle farmer has to make can cost him alot of money quick if he makes the wrong ones.

I have a altogether new respect for cattle farmers. There is alot more to it than most people realize. And if someone thinks there isnt. They just need to jump in with both feet and see just how well of a decision maker they think they really are.

I like your attitude Stepper. I'll bet you take good enough care of your cows that they would not be harmed by moving them up if they will cooperate. That's what I would do. I like them working as soon as they can without harming them long term. But your plan certainly is a sound one.