How often to breed?

[ksmit454]

I have a small herd, all cows just calved between 10/16 and 11/10 (2024). How often is too often to breed back these cows? I don't want to necessarily be overbreeding them but I know I have to breed them back to remain profitable (or try to ). When should I turn the bull back out with these ladies? Thank you!

PS, most cows are around 3-4 years old, and I have one older mama that's about 8 if I had to guess.

 

[Stickney94]

When do you want to calve? You can calculate back from that preferred date. Otherwise cows can breed back 45-60 days after calving (general rule).

 

[ksmit454]

When do you want to calve? You can calculate back from that preferred date. Otherwise cows can breed back 45-60 days after calving (general rule).

I like them to calve anywhere from Sept-Nov. So that means I'd have to introduce the bull asap. My first cow that calved would be 45 days after calving tomorrow actually. Maybe I'll see about getting the bull in there within the next week or two

 

[Travlr]

I like them to calve anywhere from Sept-Nov. So that means I'd have to introduce the bull asap. My first cow that calved would be 45 days after calving tomorrow actually. Maybe I'll see about getting the bull in there within the next week or two

Most people in the business plan that way, to have their calving at a specific time every year. If a cow gets bred a little early or late they then have a management decision to make. Trying to get your cows bred to calve a little earlier is harder than if you want them later, but as long as it's not every year they should be fine. It's generally believed that cows need a rest period between calving and breeding but that can vary.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Most breed to calve every 12 months.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Our easy reminder for fall cows is to turn the bulls in on thanksgiving for September 1st calves.

 

[ksmit454]

Our easy reminder for fall cows is to turn the bulls in on thanksgiving for September 1st calves.

That's an easy one to remember thank you! My concern is that these cows just calved so I don't want to over do it for them. But then they will be behind so I need to decide what I'd like to do.

 

[SBMF 2015]

That's an easy one to remember thank you! My concern is that these cows just calved so I don't want to over do it for them. But then they will be behind so I need to decide what I'd like to do.

As long as you are taking care of their nutritional needs, they should easily be able to calve on time every year. Every 328 days to be exact.
You won't wear them out.

 

[Dave]

A cow bred January 8 will according to the book calf on October 16. So if you want calves in that same time frame turn the bull in the first of the year maybe Christmas.

 

[C-Ranch]

On our Fall herd, I put the bulls in 1 Dec and cows will start calving in September and usually finish up in Nov. So just depends on when you want to start your calving season.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I turn bulls out around Nov 15th and start calving in early August. Try to be done calving by early Sept so that calves got a good start before the snow gets deep.

 

[Travlr]

I turn bulls out around Nov 15th and start calving in early August. Try to be done calving by early Sept so that calves got a good start before the snow gets deep.

Ya know, I've always heard from old-timers that fall calving was hard on the cow's teats and they always talk about them getting frozen. But it get damn cold in SD and it wasn't unusual for cows to calve and be nursing in January and we never had a problem. So do people have trouble with frozen teats in fall calvers?

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Never had any teat problems even during -30° weather. Maybe I've been lucky? Ha

Not much different than spring calving in March and April like a lot of guys. Here it still gets well below zero then and the snows still deep.

 

[simme]

I turn bulls out around Nov 15th and start calving in early August. Try to be done calving by early Sept so that calves got a good start before the snow gets deep.

Are those early August calves coming from that mid November breeding? Seems like that would be a very short gestation.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Last year bulls went out November 10th and first calves started dropping August 9th. About 10ish days "early" according to the charts but fairly typical for my cows.

 

[Lucky_P]

Ya know, I've always heard from old-timers that fall calving was hard on the cow's teats and they always talk about them getting frozen.

There's a LOT of stuff that old timers said that were far from true.
While there may have been some wisdom, there was a lot of mythology, misinterpretation, and straight-up BS.

 

[redcowsrule33]

We are a May-June calving herd and often get some very cold weather before we wean. While I never (knock on wood) have had a frozen teat they do get very cracked and chafed in some cases. An I try not to wean right before severely cold weather.

 

[ksmit454]

I'm in northern CA so we really don't get temps below freezing very often. Fall calving works great for me because it's starting to cool down (we get 100 degree weather in the summer) and it's just before the weather gets too wet. They seem to all do great with fall calving in my area.

 

[StrojanHerefords]

If you are going to AI wait 50 days before breeding. With a bull, it doesn't matter, he won't mind the extra work.

 

[anewcomer]

SBMF, where does the 328 days come in?