July 1 Calving

[HDRider]

Does anyone here aim for July 1 calving?

I am really asking those that have climate like me.

July is my hottest month, on average. Average temp for me in July is 80 F / 27 C. Cool season grass has waned, while warm season grass is coming on. Fescue has peaked and Bermuda is starting to come on. We have other grasses and legumes, but those dominate my pasture.

I know most folks calve early spring, or early fall and I understand why. I am not implying they are wrong.

I'd simply like to hear from those that birth July 1, plus or minus 30 days. Maybe no one does.

Thanks

 

[dun]

Flys are the main reason we don;t calf during the summer.

 

[HDRider]

Flys are the main reason we don;t calf during the summer.

Makes sense. Could that reason alone be enough to not aim for July 1?

 

[dun]

Flys are the main reason we don;t calf during the summer.

Makes sense. Could that reason alone be enough to not aim for July 1?

That's just the final straw. Fescue is dormant by then and has lost some of that pop that puts growth on calves through the cows milk. I'll admit I would be some concerned about calves getting squished by the cows piling up under the trees for shade.

 

[Rafter S]

Back when I had cows calving year-round the summer-born calves just never seemed to do well.

 

[Aaron]

Flies. Fly season is June 15-Aug 15 here. Treating one calf for maggots is one too many.

 

[HDRider]

Let me add a little more thought to my madness.

How big an issue is fertility during the hotter months?

I don't know anything, just trying to plan. My plan would be calve in the spring, maybe April. But, that puts me breeding in the heat of the summer. I really want a 60 day calving window.

Calving in April & May puts breeding in July & August.

That is why I thought about calving in July.

 

[torogmc81]

Your in NE Arkansas and your July high average is 80?? Am I missing something? Isn't your average high 90? Am I'm sure with the same humidity we have. No calving for us for sure in july or august.

 

[Toad]

I've been buying bred cows and the vet isn't always right so this year I had a heifer calve in early July. The calf grew like a weed and I didn't have any problems but I moved the cow to my group of fall calvers. Not worth the risk of flies and heat IMO. I don't want a cow having issues calving on one of those really hot 100+ degree days.

 

[HDRider]

Your in NE Arkansas and your July high average is 80?? Am I missing something? Isn't your average high 90? Am I'm sure with the same humidity we have. No calving for us for sure in july or august.

I said average. You said average high.

I used this.
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/uscli ... 2000.climo

I tried to find median, but could not. You are right, using average is misleading.

 

[torogmc81]

Your in NE Arkansas and your July high average is 80?? Am I missing something? Isn't your average high 90? Am I'm sure with the same humidity we have. No calving for us for sure in july or august.

I said average. You said average high.

I used this.
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/uscli ... 2000.climo

I tried to find median, but could not. You are right, using average is misleading.

I guess we are both right!! or wrong!! :lol2:

I do know this, any time I think of July and temperatures, all I can think about is how hot and humid it can easily be from 8am to 9pm, and the flies on top of it. I'd either aim for mid September at the earliest or go with a March/April calving season :2cents:

 

[HDRider]

Your in NE Arkansas and your July high average is 80?? Am I missing something? Isn't your average high 90? Am I'm sure with the same humidity we have. No calving for us for sure in july or august.

I said average. You said average high.

I used this.
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/uscli ... 2000.climo

I tried to find median, but could not. You are right, using average is misleading.

I guess we are both right!! or wrong!! :lol2:

I do know this, any time I think of July and temperatures, all I can think about is how hot and humid it can easily be from 8am to 9pm, and the flies on top of it. I'd either aim for mid September at the earliest or go with a March/April calving season :2cents:

You are right, it is hot and humid from late June to early September.

 

[Andyva]

When I have cows come fresh on a lot of grass versus early spring grass/hay I see more udder problems related to more milk than a small calf can handle. I don't like when the woods and brush vegetation gets leafed out and not being able to see new calves or cows calving. Insects can be rough on small calves in the summer, too. Seems like pinkeye is worse in July/August born calves. Better than a frozen dead one though.

 

[jedstivers]

Back in the 80's I ran a herd that was year round calving. The worst calves of the year were born mid June to first of September. July and August really being the worst, now I did have some that were fine but as a whole that time frame was worse. February calves were best then but I wasn't running cows on oats in the winter like I am now.
For us now October is best but only because we are grazing in the winter.

 

[HDRider]

Back in the 80's I ran a herd that was year round calving. The worst calves of the year were born mid June to first of September. July and August really being the worst, now I did have some that were fine but as a whole that time frame was worse. February calves were best then but I wasn't running cows on oats in the winter like I am now.
For us now October is best but only because we are grazing in the winter.

Makes sense. I get caught up in stuff and get all confused. I am lucky to have good folks on here to point out the flaws in my thinking instead of throwing my money away on bad ideas. I bought into the idea of calving when deer are born.

Do cattle breed well in the coldest winter months? I have read they do not breed well in the heat.

 

[dun]

Do cattle breed well in the coldest winter months? I have read they do not breed well in the heat.

No rpoblems settling in the cold, but the heat will hammer conception rate.

 

[Nesikep]

I had a couple late calvers, 2 in july, 1 in august, and I kept them through the winter, I was actually really surprised at how well they did, the two steers from july were from good cows, and they were around 700 at 205 days, the heifer born in august to a first timer was 550 or so.
My biggest worry about calving out in the heat around here (100F) is if the cow doesn't have good milk, the calf will dehydrate before it learns how to drink water.. I've had no problems with pinkeye, and the flies, well, we got them from May - October but they really haven't caused any real trouble

 

[jedstivers]

I've never heard of trouble in cold weather. In hot weather the Brahman Bulls and prol the Longhorn Bulls will pool get the job done. Have always heard hot weather puts them off but it never did me.
When a job has to be done it's best to get on with it.

 

[Rafter S]

Back in the 80's I ran a herd that was year round calving. The worst calves of the year were born mid June to first of September. July and August really being the worst, now I did have some that were fine but as a whole that time frame was worse. February calves were best then but I wasn't running cows on oats in the winter like I am now.
For us now October is best but only because we are grazing in the winter.

Makes sense. I get caught up in stuff and get all confused. I am lucky to have good folks on here to point out the flaws in my thinking instead of throwing my money away on bad ideas. I bought into the idea of calving when deer are born.

Do cattle breed well in the coldest winter months? I have read they do not breed well in the heat.

I don't know what effect heat has on cows fertility, but it can definitely affect bulls. Some of them will lay up under shade instead of following cows, heat can negatively affect sperm quality, and some won't hold their condition as well in hot weather. Of course that's more or less of a factor for some breeds, and there will also be some variance between individuals within breeds.

 

[HDRider]

Sorry. I did not mean to imply heat bothered cows as much as bulls.