Neighbors here saying their herds pretty much started on due date. We found the same this year.Gestation length and due dates are not written in stone... they are average and approximate. 7-10 days before or after the "due date" is not considered unusual or abnormal. Yes, calving "early" is common with twins and often heifers, but it is to give you a GENERAL IDEA of when they are due and to be able to watch when it gets closer. And to watch if they tend to go over by too much... but again, if bull bred, then they could be off another 3 weeks..... Thank goodness we can't control Mother Nature or the weather.... even if it is inconvenient sometimes.
Most years we are 80 to 85% done in 30 days.Calves by due date is always kinda interesting but I'm always more interested in the first cycle and first 30 days numbers for tracking year over year.
And the last 5% seems to take forever. Usually pick a cutoff date and all the cows who lost calves or haven't calved go to town. We are at 43 days this morning since first cow dropped her calf and she was a week early.Most years we are 80 to 85% done in 30 days.
Similar here, but for some reason we hit 90% at 30 days this year.Most years we are 80 to 85% done in 30 days.
Would never ship a bred cow in spring. She and her weaned little calf are worth far more that she is intact and the big cost is done.And the last 5% seems to take forever. Usually pick a cutoff date and all the cows who lost calves or haven't calved go to town. We are at 43 days this morning since first cow dropped her calf and she was a week early.
I wouldn't either, but we are still in extreme drought and even after picking up another pasture lease, I need to lop off 10% of the herd, so after dry cows, the late cows are the next cut. And breds were bringing $1800-2100 last week, so after expenses and risk to run them til October, selling lowest performing breds doesn't look too bad.Would never ship a bred cow in spring. She and her weaned little calf are worth far more that she is intact and the big cost is done.