Calving and the Cold...

randiliana · #21 03/26/13, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ycanchu2

Ever thought about moving your calving up to about the last of April or May?

Nope. Too many reasons to keep it where it is... Bigger calves come fall and sale time. Our pastures are too far away for later calving. We want the cows (all of them) out to pasture by May 10, and later calving means that we would have to keep them around longer, and we don't have a big enough landbase at home to keep them around longer. We would have to keep feeding. Plus the calves are usually healthier when it is colder than when it is warmer, unless you can get them out to pasture where they are more spread out. Usually March isn't like this one. Not to say that we don't get some cold weather, but usually it is only a day or 2 and then it warms back up.

wr · #22 03/26/13, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ycanchu2

Ever thought about moving your calving up to about the last of April or May?

To add to randiliana's response to your question, April or May doesn't ensure warm weather up here and if we delay calving by too much, we pay for it at the other end because winter often begins as early as mid October so you end up feeding hay to cows and calves yet (which aren't market weight) and your calves don't wean well when it's really cold.