Fall Born Calves- Weaning Weights

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KS1200

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What weaning weight are you guys achieving for fall born calves? Please include weaning age and weight. Thanks
 
Welcome to CT. Can't help you because I calve in the spring, wean in the fall. Which is what the majority of operators do in south central KS. Not sure which part of KS you're from but might want to go back and look at previous sales results from the closest sale barn in your area. Do you have a mentor or neighbor that would have more accurate information for your demographic? Geography matters. And what breed? That also matters.

That said, my calves are weaned at appx 6-8 months, weaned generally 45-60 days and steers average 625-700 lbs, heifers 550-650. Angus with a couple Angus/Hereford in the mix.
 
Welcome to CT. Can't help you because I calve in the spring, wean in the fall. Which is what the majority of operators do in south central KS. Not sure which part of KS you're from but might want to go back and look at previous sales results from the closest sale barn in your area. Do you have a mentor or neighbor that would have more accurate information for your demographic? Geography matters. And what breed? That also matters.

That said, my calves are weaned at appx 6-8 months, weaned generally 45-60 days and steers average 625-700 lbs, heifers 550-650. Angus with a couple Angus/Hereford in the mix.
Thank you for your response. Neighbor had fall born calves sold at 7-8 months that averaged around 500 lbs. Primarily angus some angus crosses. Does that seem light for fall born calves at that age? Calves looked healthy but were a long ways from your weaning weights
 
Being how far south you are and your lack of harsh winters I'd expect higher than 500lb at that age.

My fall calves 205d adjusted WW was just under 600lb last spring. That's thru a northern winter on strictly grass and hay, no supplements of grain.
 
Thank you for your response. Neighbor had fall born calves sold at 7-8 months that averaged around 500 lbs. Primarily angus some angus crosses. Does that seem light for fall born calves at that age? Calves looked healthy but were a long ways from your weaning weights
That does seem awfully light for that age. But you have to factor in the environment and the dam. What is the age and body condition of the cows? Most of KS has been in an epic drought the past couple years, so unless the cows were being supplemented, may not have had enough protein in their diet. Plus, spring calves tend to be larger overall. Cold (and sometimes extremely cold around here) does have an impact on the growth of the calf during late gestation.
 
There are so many variables that it is really hard to go by weaning weights that someone posts on the internet. Different locations, different resources, different cattle, etc.

My spring calves this year were actually a little under that but we were in a d3/4 drought this summer.

I have done fall calving a couple times and I didn't really notice any significant difference in weight. What I did notice was cows went through a lot more hay.
 
Well, the breed of cow....the size age and condition of the cow... the nutrition available to the cow. have more to do with it than when you wean the calf. And of course, the bull! We wean at 6 mos, and we calve year round now. Used to calve in February. The current deal we have on our calves, the man buying them needs to get them all 12 mos. However, we haven't noticed any size difference at all in the calves born each month, or between these now and the ones that we used to calve in February. Heifers wean at 450-500, and steers wean between 500-550. The size difference comes from the individual cow, the particular bull that sired the calf, and 3-4 weeks age difference in the calves, January calves will be weaned Aug 1st. So, calves born the first of January will be bigger, mostly ,than calves born in late January. A calf born on Jan 31st, will be 6 mos old Aug 1st at weaning. .A calf born the next day, Feb 1st, would be weaned Sept 1st, so it would be nearly 7 mos old. Today, it is 81 degrees,. and most of the stuff they eat is still green.
 
I do not have what most consider a fall calving season, but I start mid to late November until late January for my calving season. last year calves were weaned between 6 - 8 months depending on their birth dates. keep for 45 days or more after weaning before sale barn. last year had a few steers 900+ lbs. most steers were 700 - 800 lb. range. heifers were about same weights. all black/red angus from AI bulls. 500 lbs. seems light for their age but that doesn't mean that they were less profitable than heavier weight cattle. like others posted that so many variables in the way cattle are raised make it difficult to compare apples to apples.
 
Thank you for your response. Neighbor had fall born calves sold at 7-8 months that averaged around 500 lbs. Primarily angus some angus crosses. Does that seem light for fall born calves at that age? Calves looked healthy but were a long ways from your weaning weights
Weaning weights are a function of two major factors 99% of the time.

Factor one: Genetics give the calves the capability to grow as long as they are fed an adequate diet. If you have a calf that hasn't got genetic growth potential you can't force him to grow by shoving feed down his throat. You can maximize potential by feeding, but you'll never get the same result as a calf with high growth genetics.

Factor two: Feed matters, but not as much as genetics. A calf with the genetics to wean at 500 pounds on the forage you have might be forced to gain an extra 50# with expensive supplements... or you can use genetics that will give you calves that wean at 600 pounds just eating the forage you have.

The only things that might influence these factors are disease/health, weather extremes, and the distance between water and pasturage. With fall calves as opposed to spring calves the most likely factor of influence is probably weather.
 
I do not have what most consider a fall calving season, but I start mid to late November until late January for my calving season. last year calves were weaned between 6 - 8 months depending on their birth dates. keep for 45 days or more after weaning before sale barn. last year had a few steers 900+ lbs. most steers were 700 - 800 lb. range. heifers were about same weights. all black/red angus from AI bulls. 500 lbs. seems light for their age but that doesn't mean that they were less profitable than heavier weight cattle. like others posted that so many variables in the way cattle are raised make it difficult to compare apples to apples.
calves get feed prior to weaning? Impressive numbers I think.
 
calves get feed prior to weaning? Impressive numbers I think.
I start calves on a calf starter at about 1 month old to help during the cold weather. they then get about 2lbs. cracked corn per day once they are out on pasture in the spring. just enough grain to have them come to check for pinkeye or other problems.
 
Weaning weights are a function of two major factors 99% of the time.

Factor one: Genetics give the calves the capability to grow as long as they are fed an adequate diet. If you have a calf that hasn't got genetic growth potential you can't force him to grow by shoving feed down his throat. You can maximize potential by feeding, but you'll never get the same result as a calf with high growth genetics.

Factor two: Feed matters, but not as much as genetics. A calf with the genetics to wean at 500 pounds on the forage you have might be forced to gain an extra 50# with expensive supplements... or you can use genetics that will give you calves that wean at 600 pounds just eating the forage you have.

The only things that might influence these factors are disease/health, weather extremes, and the distance between water and pasturage. With fall calves as opposed to spring calves the most likely factor of influence is probably weather.
Weaning weights are a function of two major factors 99% of the time.

Factor one: Genetics give the calves the capability to grow as long as they are fed an adequate diet. If you have a calf that hasn't got genetic growth potential you can't force him to grow by shoving feed down his throat. You can maximize potential by feeding, but you'll never get the same result as a calf with high growth genetics.

Factor two: Feed matters, but not as much as genetics. A calf with the genetics to wean at 500 pounds on the forage you have might be forced to gain an extra 50# with expensive supplements... or you can use genetics that will give you calves that wean at 600 pounds just eating the forage you have.

The only things that might influence these factors are disease/health, weather extremes, and the distance between water and pasturage. With fall calves as opposed to spring calves the most likely factor of influence is probably weather.
Would getting the calves started on some creep early on help at all? I think a lot of grazing is done on crop residue during the winters. Could that be part or the big difference between fall and spring weaning weights in this case?
 
I don't creep feed but supplement with 20% protein cubes. Calves start nibbling on them by the time they're a few months old. And it makes the transition to weaning easier. At least in my world.
 
Would getting the calves started on some creep early on help at all? I think a lot of grazing is done on crop residue during the winters. Could that be part or the big difference between fall and spring weaning weights in this case?
If your priority is pretty animals from poor genetics, then I'm sure supplemental feed would help. An expensive solution for a problem that can be solved more inexpensively by learning how to breed for better animals.
 
What the cows are consuming will have an affect on how they milk, so will be reflected in the calves. Crop residue as compared to good growing grass will affect the cows milk production.
Having to supplement the calves may produce larger, heavier weaning weights, but at what cost.
Yes, genetics will play a big part too.

The market might be favorable for 5 wt calves sold in the spring as feeders to go out on grass. We calve in both the spring and fall. The fall calves are born in Oct/Nov mostly... some will come off the cows in April or so...and sold as 450-550 wts... depends on the cattle market prices. Some kept on feed with pasture for a couple more months.
 

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