Calving seasons?

[fnfarms1]

So my bulls go out May15, come in Aug1-10 depending when I can catch them, time, etc. our bad weather has been Feb-Early march for last 5+yrs. I've debated turning bulls out March 15-June1.Idea being to miss part of the weather and maybe better breed back not being in the July heat. Thoughts? Be tough first year since I've got these new heifers and only 11babies so far out of 26 cows.So if likely split the herd in first year, not ideal but otherwise you miss a year, that's tough too.
Calves born and going tend to handle cold well. Barns aren't much for me as our winters aren't that long. Although barns are in the works in next couple years.
So do I keep going what I am doing or try to switch it up? Anyone done this?
Located NE OK

 

[ClinchValley86]

Question 1 - Why are they open? Bad bull? Or are they just late?

Question 2 - If open, what about selling the opens and replacing with breds due in fall.

Statement 1 - Depending on your location, buying are paying extra well for good looking 2 and 3 year olds. Similar money fall calving breds needing groceries.

Statement 2- I hope they calve yet for ya.

I'm assuming the bull was solid and cows are open. Apoligies if I missed something, I feel like I have.

 

[Silver]

It's a pretty tough ask to turn bulls out 2 months early and expect to have many calves in that first month of calving. If I was going to change my start date by that much without replacing a lot of them it would need to be done over two or three years, then more time to get the window down to something respectable like 45-50 days.

 

[fnfarms1]

Question 1 - Why are they open? Bad bull? Or are they just late?

Question 2 - If open, what about selling the opens and replacing with breds due in fall.

Statement 1 - Depending on your location, buying are paying extra well for good looking 2 and 3 year olds. Similar money fall calving breds needing groceries.

Statement 2- I hope they calve yet for ya.

I'm assuming the bull was solid and cows are open. Apoligies if I missed something, I feel like I have.

There is nothing wrong with bulls or cows. Only discussing moving my calving season. Issue being that moving it later in year is easy, just hold bulls month or 2. Moving it up is asking them to breed earlier or miss a year which is tough on pocket book. So is trying to swap cows besides I have weeded through and culled to know what I have now. New cows would be culling again

 

[fnfarms1]

It's a pretty tough ask to turn bulls out 2 months early and expect to have many calves in that first month of calving. If I was going to change my start date by that much without replacing a lot of them it would need to be done over two or three years, then more time to get the window down to something respectable like 45-50 days.

That was my thoughts, just curious if you ever get it done or if some cows never catch up. I guess big thing for me is these new heifers could get started on new schedule instead of trying to switch them later. Also is there something I'm missing? Granted the weather staying like I described is a crap shoot in itself, so don't mistake that I live in OK and weather is anyone's guess

 

[Silver]

That was my thoughts, just curious if you ever get it done or if some cows never catch up. I guess big thing for me is these new heifers could get started on new schedule instead of trying to switch them later. Also is there something I'm missing? Granted the weather staying like I described is a crap shoot in itself, so don't mistake that I live in OK and weather is anyone's guess

I haven't tried to move up that much, but I'm guessing you'd have cows that never make it. If I was going to try it I'd pay very close attention to nutrition and body condition prior to calving all the way through breed up.

 

[fnfarms1]

I haven't tried to move up that much, but I'm guessing you'd have cows that never make it. If I was going to try it I'd pay very close attention to nutrition and body condition prior to calving all the way through breed up.

I can see that as good advice. Spending alittle extra on nutrition might save in culling due to conception rates. Should add that I've got roughly 30-40% of the herd that will start aging out in the next 2-3yrs. Between normal opens and the fact that I have several 12yr olds I bought as a group of bred heifers in 2014. Hence part of the reason for the replacements

 

[ClinchValley86]

Why have the cows not had calves for you though? That's a big % of lates, opens, or something. As long as you've got a grip on it I guess. Hard to discuss this one with ya.

Be easier on pocket book to cull opens and buy breds due in fall. Boom! You've got a fall calving herd and get more calves this year. We are talking waiting til November, December, or January turnout ish for fall calving correct? Might as well wait til March again. I just know calves coming in heat of summer has it's own set of problems.

Whose to say pound cows are bringing this record price in 2 years?

Im just trying to help, but i still feel like I've missed something somewhere.

 

[Lucky]

We tried moving up 15 days one year and it didn't go well. Next year we moved back to a May 1st turn out.

 

[bird dog]

I tried to consolidate two herds by moving one up. I knew it would take three years or so. Actually it was like Silver said and some never made the jump. I could not see that it would be worth culling good proven cows and trying to replace them with something that might not be as good so I just left my long calving period alone.

After bringing in a third group, it really screwed things up. Now my calving period for most is August to April. At least the bull stays home.

 

[Dave]

Why have the cows not had calves for you though? That's a big % of lates, opens, or something. As long as you've got a grip on it I guess. Hard to discuss this one with ya.

Be easier on pocket book to cull opens and buy breds due in fall. Boom! You've got a fall calving herd and get more calves this year. We are talking waiting til November, December, or January turnout ish for fall calving correct? Might as well wait til March again. I just know calves coming in heat of summer has it's own set of problems.

Whose to say pound cows are bringing this record price in 2 years?

Im just trying to help, but i still feel like I've missed something somewhere.

He turned his bull out May 15. According to the book a cow bred May 16 should calf on February 23 (just last Sunday). He has 11 out of 26 in the first week. That is not big % of lates or opens. That is actually doing pretty good.

 

[fnfarms1]

He turned his bull out May 15. According to the book a cow bred May 16 should calf on February 23 (just last Sunday). He has 11 out of 26 in the first week. That is not big % of lates or opens. That is actually doing pretty good.

Thank you for fully reading my post. Felt I gave all the details, but 2x ppl couldn't grasp what I was asking.

Why have the cows not had calves for you though? That's a big % of lates, opens, or something. As long as you've got a grip on it I guess. Hard to discuss this one with ya.

Be easier on pocket book to cull opens and buy breds due in fall. Boom! You've got a fall calving herd and get more calves this year. We are talking waiting til November, December, or January turnout ish for fall calving correct? Might as well wait til March again. I just know calves coming in heat of summer has it's own set of problems.

Whose to say pound cows are bringing this record price in 2 years?

Im just trying to help, but i still feel like I've missed something somewhere.

Yes you completely missed the boat.

 

[farmerjan]

We had a situation where we had a tested bull, get hurt somehow and wound up breeding a few then the rest were open... Quickly put 2 young bulls in, and got them bred within a month... BUT... they were 3 months off.... Tried moving them up a month or so, the next year, and some did, but about half did not... moved them up the next year again... and several did not make it... so we held the ones that did not move up, and put them all with the fall calving group... they had older calves.... so all the ones that did not move up, were in better shape and had the opportunity to get bred back... All got bred within the first 30 days, and 2 were culled after that as being slow to catch with the later group. Because we buy a few here and there... well we did before they got this high....we had several calving at odd times. We found that holding them back instead of moving them up, gave them a much better chance of breeding back right away when the bull went in... and subsequent breed back the following years went much better because then they were calving in the first 30 days each time...

That said.... my longhorn had 4 calvings in 3 years... Aug 20 hfr, June 21 bull , early April22 twin hfrs in a cold miserable rain...., Last of January 23 bull, April 24 bull...... she would back up 1-2 months every year... and I finally pulled the bull completely out and did not put the heifers to be bred there at the place we keep the longhorn... so she would actually go 12 months between calves... I hated to go out like 2 years ago and find a calf in January... she is a fertile cow... but I wanted her to have a break and calve with the group... she is still 5 months ahead from all the years she backed up...and I think she bred right back when the bull went in and might calve in Mar this year... MOST do not do that good....