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Breeding / Calving Issues
spring vs fall
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<blockquote data-quote="bcarty" data-source="post: 1005268" data-attributes="member: 17617"><p>There are several reasons for wanting to go to all fall calving for me. First of all I want a uniform calf crop that allows me to get to a pot load of steers. Right now I'm not quite there so I take a small hit on price by having to sell them in less than a pot load. It also gives me more marketable pounds of calf the following fall. The calves that are born in the spring only average 400lbs and the fall calves are up around 600 when I sell them. If I can increase the weight of every calf I sell by 150 pounds then why am I not taking advantage of that. Many people would say to just keep my spring calves until the following spring, but then you are taking weaned calves through the winter and thats always tough. Thats just extra feed that I have to account for. While taking baby calves through the winter can be expensive, I have found that my cows are easier to condition than trying to keep yearlings growing all winter on stockpiled forage. Not to mention the extra space those yearlings take up. It also times where I can wean my fall calves when I have the most forage in the spring. It also has benefits in calving ease and timing. Here in Missouri we have fescue that grows really well in the fall and the calves are born in September, timing it with the onset of the fall flush of fescue. Those fall born calves are also on average a little lighter in BW so they are a little easier on the cows and esp. on heifers. </p><p></p><p>Another benefit that really has nothing to do with fall calving vs spring calving, but by converting to all one calving season I can put added pressure on my heifers to develop and breed on time therefore making my cowherd more fertile. If they wont breed on time then they cannot stay. Over time selecting for those cows that breed on time every year will make heifers that do the same. This can also be a drawback if you start with a set of cows that cannot get the job done in a 12 month interval. Could cause you to have a low conception rate the first year or two until you get rid of those cows that are not fertile enough to make it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bcarty, post: 1005268, member: 17617"] There are several reasons for wanting to go to all fall calving for me. First of all I want a uniform calf crop that allows me to get to a pot load of steers. Right now I'm not quite there so I take a small hit on price by having to sell them in less than a pot load. It also gives me more marketable pounds of calf the following fall. The calves that are born in the spring only average 400lbs and the fall calves are up around 600 when I sell them. If I can increase the weight of every calf I sell by 150 pounds then why am I not taking advantage of that. Many people would say to just keep my spring calves until the following spring, but then you are taking weaned calves through the winter and thats always tough. Thats just extra feed that I have to account for. While taking baby calves through the winter can be expensive, I have found that my cows are easier to condition than trying to keep yearlings growing all winter on stockpiled forage. Not to mention the extra space those yearlings take up. It also times where I can wean my fall calves when I have the most forage in the spring. It also has benefits in calving ease and timing. Here in Missouri we have fescue that grows really well in the fall and the calves are born in September, timing it with the onset of the fall flush of fescue. Those fall born calves are also on average a little lighter in BW so they are a little easier on the cows and esp. on heifers. Another benefit that really has nothing to do with fall calving vs spring calving, but by converting to all one calving season I can put added pressure on my heifers to develop and breed on time therefore making my cowherd more fertile. If they wont breed on time then they cannot stay. Over time selecting for those cows that breed on time every year will make heifers that do the same. This can also be a drawback if you start with a set of cows that cannot get the job done in a 12 month interval. Could cause you to have a low conception rate the first year or two until you get rid of those cows that are not fertile enough to make it. [/QUOTE]
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