bird dog
Well-known member
I know you traditional know it all ranchers will think this is stupid but the easy way I have found to solve calving problems is to just let the heifer get bigger and more mature. For me this is letting them calve at 27 months instead of 24.
My investment to raise these girls is large and I don't want to screw it up. What I have found by doing this is way less calving problems, quicker breed backs and a first calf the equals in size and growth as the rest of the older cows instead of a 50 lb dink.
I don't like to supplement my heifers to try to get them to the right size and my forage is poor. I know this is not an issue for you folks that have lush grass and deep pockets or do AI work. I really don't have enough animals to have a "heifer" bull. My girls have to calve on their own as circumstances beyond my control (family) results in them not being checked on but once a week in many instances.
I know this isn't for everyone but simply information to consider for beginners like myself that don't have much experience pulling calves or the will to do so.
An old man that used to ranch next to me would let his heifers calve at 30 months. He would state "its a 10 year investment, why worry about six months".
In truth, what good does it to calve at 24 months if you have to cull half the heifers that don't breed back on time. Sure you will have the best most fertile cows but you will also have a large loss on the culls.
So to get to the point of this thread, If I was starting fresh with beef animals other than corrintees or longhorns I would not put the bull on them until they were 18 months.
My investment to raise these girls is large and I don't want to screw it up. What I have found by doing this is way less calving problems, quicker breed backs and a first calf the equals in size and growth as the rest of the older cows instead of a 50 lb dink.
I don't like to supplement my heifers to try to get them to the right size and my forage is poor. I know this is not an issue for you folks that have lush grass and deep pockets or do AI work. I really don't have enough animals to have a "heifer" bull. My girls have to calve on their own as circumstances beyond my control (family) results in them not being checked on but once a week in many instances.
I know this isn't for everyone but simply information to consider for beginners like myself that don't have much experience pulling calves or the will to do so.
An old man that used to ranch next to me would let his heifers calve at 30 months. He would state "its a 10 year investment, why worry about six months".
In truth, what good does it to calve at 24 months if you have to cull half the heifers that don't breed back on time. Sure you will have the best most fertile cows but you will also have a large loss on the culls.
So to get to the point of this thread, If I was starting fresh with beef animals other than corrintees or longhorns I would not put the bull on them until they were 18 months.