Rydero
Well-known member
You keep saying this... I was thinking about the fact I don't feel like we lose many calves at all as a direct result of the cold. Most late calving advocates talk about not getting up at night, counting calves and similar statements. If you're accounting for labor it's definitely cheaper in that regard but if as you say, "nothing in the cattle business affects the bottom line more than a live calf". In my mind the fact we're out there as a result of the cold means we catch a lot of dystocia problems early, save calves born in the bag, make sure calves get colostrum in a timely fashion etc. In short we seem to be saving a lot of calves. Last year we didn't quite get there but the year before we weaned one more calf than we had cows (80+ calving). I pretty quickly found and read this article that seems to confirm my thoughts. https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/features/early-or-late-calving/There is nothing the cattle business that affects the bottom line more than a live calf. The best time to calve is when the ambient temperature
is not a threat to the life of the calf. The weight that I lost through calving in sync with nature is made up in live calves sold, no med$, shelters,
time wasted looking for calves instead of counting calves. Pulling calves is another waste of time that for the most part can be eliminated with
a little common sense in heifer and bull selection. (I will get skewered for that!) It is the No Sale or One time sales that fail the profit test.
Nothing ,just happens, in this business. There is always a cause and a subsequent consequence be it good or bad. Will they all live, NO
Can more be saved by calving in sync with nature, Yes
Maybe you have other information? I know only a couple May/June calving operations. The one I know well has a much lower live weaning % than we do and he constantly struggles to market his calves for a decent dollar. The other one I don't have much information on but is very large and seems successful however they wean and background all calves to get a better dollar which I'm not interested in emulating at all.