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Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
Spring vs fall calving and why???
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<blockquote data-quote="Lucky_P" data-source="post: 1330164" data-attributes="member: 12607"><p>Ahh, the old 'calve in tune with nature thing'... yes, deer do give birth in late spring... but they're seasonal breeders - they don't cycle all year round - and they're principally browsers, not grazers. And, we (mostly) don't confine them to a pasture and control what they get to eat - which is mostly non-native, introduced forage plants(fescue, orchardgrass, clovers, corn, wheat, ryegrass, etc.). It's not a valid comparison.</p><p>Just because deer, elk, goats, sheep are ruminants... they are NOT just small cows. </p><p></p><p>We have both spring and fall-calving herds. One bull is enough to cover both. And yes, if I have one that doesn't breed in one season... if I can justify it, I'll bump her to the next. Or not. </p><p>Yeah, I know, some here will say 'You're not selecting for fertility - the MOST important trait', or 'She'll never repay the added economic loss you've incurred by keeping her (unproductive) for that extra 6 months.' And... they're probably right. </p><p></p><p>But. While the cows are a source of income, they're not the primary one. I'll hazard a guess that very few on this board are living entirely on the $$$ that their cattle operation generates. I could probably live just as well - maybe better! - without them; but they're my HOBBY, and I'll breed what I want and manage them the way I want. I'm not breeding seedstock, so the only person impacted is...ME. Dual calving seasons works for us.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lucky_P, post: 1330164, member: 12607"] Ahh, the old 'calve in tune with nature thing'... yes, deer do give birth in late spring... but they're seasonal breeders - they don't cycle all year round - and they're principally browsers, not grazers. And, we (mostly) don't confine them to a pasture and control what they get to eat - which is mostly non-native, introduced forage plants(fescue, orchardgrass, clovers, corn, wheat, ryegrass, etc.). It's not a valid comparison. Just because deer, elk, goats, sheep are ruminants... they are NOT just small cows. We have both spring and fall-calving herds. One bull is enough to cover both. And yes, if I have one that doesn't breed in one season... if I can justify it, I'll bump her to the next. Or not. Yeah, I know, some here will say 'You're not selecting for fertility - the MOST important trait', or 'She'll never repay the added economic loss you've incurred by keeping her (unproductive) for that extra 6 months.' And... they're probably right. But. While the cows are a source of income, they're not the primary one. I'll hazard a guess that very few on this board are living entirely on the $$$ that their cattle operation generates. I could probably live just as well - maybe better! - without them; but they're my HOBBY, and I'll breed what I want and manage them the way I want. I'm not breeding seedstock, so the only person impacted is...ME. Dual calving seasons works for us. [/QUOTE]
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Spring vs fall calving and why???
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