ONE CALVING SEASON

[Herefordcross]

I see a lot of other topics on this but, have any of you had problems when you let a cow stand open for 10 months to get everyone calving around the same time?

 

[rockridgecattle]

they get chunky.

 

[msscamp]

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for or not. As far as calving season goes, we have always had only one calving season. We have had heifers/cows lose their calves - through no fault of their own - and, because of their quality/genetics/etc, have made the decision to carry them over the winter until the next breeding season. We have had no problems with them becoming overly fat, settling during the normal breeding season, delivering, or raising a good calf.

 

[Herefordcross]

That's understandable and very true.
But, what else do you do with them in order to get them where you want them, if you breed 'em closer and closer each year you end up with Jan. calves and messes like that.

 

[msscamp]

We didn't do anything else with them, just put the bull out according to when we wanted them to start calving. I'm sure you already know that changing calving seasons is not an easy (or cost-effective) proposition - you're either looking at carrying them as open animals until the time is right to turn the bull out, or gradually moving them up towards the desired calving date over the course of a couple of years - depending on when you calve now, and where you want to move your calving date to.

 

[Herefordcross]

I was thinking of sliding but, like you talked about above, then your losing calves to weather

 

[certherfbeef]

That's understandable and very true.
But, what else do you do with them in order to get them where you want them, if you breed 'em closer and closer each year you end up with Jan. calves and messes like that.

Your herd health and mineral program will help you make that decision. I have cows cycling now that calved mid to late march. I can push their calving season back on a natural heat pretty easy.
We are understocked most times and our cattle will get too fat if not working. Plus it gets into my pocket too much.

We have a couple cross breds right now that will be late april calving. 2nd calvers. Last year they were may calving as heifers.
Now they will get pushed hard or go to someone else's place.

The plan here is to cycle them with cidr's 30 days post partum and breed on that heat. They are healthy, on good mineral and it ought to have warmed up enough in a month to have the grass growing. If all goes well with calving (no dystocia) they should be in the march calving next year. If I miss AI once that still gives the bull time to get them on the next heat and still bump the calving date back a month from this year.

SO, if it were me...I wouldn't let them stand open. But we have plenty of grass late spring and can keep the condition on them thru calving and breeding.
AND, my cattle are probably not worth as much as yours, Herefordcross :lol: , so if my experiment doesn't work...down the road they go.

Good luck to ya, let us know how it all works out.