1 / 16

Calving Season

Calving Season. Lori R. Puryear Robyn D. Whittington. Calving Season. What is a calving season? Why should I have a calving season? How do I convert to a calving season?. What is a calving season?.

calvin-briggs
Download Presentation

Calving Season

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Calving Season Lori R. Puryear Robyn D. Whittington

  2. Calving Season • What is a calving season? • Why should I have a calving season? • How do I convert to a calving season?

  3. What is a calving season? • Developing specific predertermined strategies on when to begin and end the breeding season. • Length of breeding season varies according to marketing objective, size of operation and personal preference.

  4. A Few Numbers • 70% of cow calf producers in the southeast still calve year round • Of the 30% that have a calving season • 75% calve in late winter/spring • 25% calve in fall

  5. Why should I have a calving season? • Nutrient requirements of cows is more easily fulfilled • Cows can be more easily observed for calving difficulties • Calf crop is more uniform for marketing purposes • Improved time and labor management • Easier identification of reproductively unsound cows

  6. Nutrient requirements • Vary within the herd due to phase of lactation and reproductive state • Grouping may be necessary • Heifers • Cows • Feeding cattle according to their nutritional needs reduces costs associated with wasted feed and delayed puberty

  7. Calving Difficulty • Allows for more intense observation of cows during calving • Failure to identify calving difficulties can result in loss of calf and/or cow. • Especially important in first calf heifers Controlled Breeding results in Controlled Calving: Once the calving season ends the producer can focus on other needs of the herd

  8. Uniformity • A calving season allows for more uniform calves which improves: • Marketing • Management

  9. Time & Labor Management Year round calving results in year round calf processing and missed profits.

  10. Time & Labor Management • Vaccinations • Castrations • Dehorning • Deworming & Fly tags • Weaning • Record Keeping • Implants

  11. Time & Labor Management Year round calving causes lower prices due to: • variability in the calf crop • discounts caused by missed management practices

  12. ID of Reproductive Problems • Open cows • Calving intervals • Dystocia • Mastitis/Udder Problems • Uterine infections/Prolapses

  13. How do I convert to a calving season? • 3-4 year process • Set target breeding/calving dates • Pay careful attention to potential culling • May consider split calving seasons • Have a plan!

  14. How do I convert to a calving season? First Year  1: Build a good, strong bull pen.  2: Remove bull from herd.  3: Pregnancy check all cows.   Cull:   a: All open breeding-age females    b: All open cows with calves 5 months of age or older  4:Place bull with cows for 6 months.  5:Breed Replacement heifers 3 to 4 weeks ahead of the final long-range planned breeding. Second Year 1.Follow all previous steps except leave bull with cows for 4½ months. Third Year 1:Follow all previous steps except leave bull with cows for 80 to 90 days.   Cull:   a: All open cows regardless of age of their calves.  2:The breeding season may be reduced even further in following years.

More Related