By Scout Nelson
Managing the timing of calving is essential for beef cattle producers aiming to improve herd productivity. A shorter calving window helps align births with forage availability and results in heavier, more valuable calves born earlier in the season.
A wide calving window can create two major challenges. First, it becomes difficult to match calving with peak forage production needed for lactating cows. Second, early born calves typically grow faster and bring more value. Narrowing the calving window increases the number of these profitable calves.
“I would probably focus on developing replacement heifers so that all of my replacement heifers calve early, and over time cull the late bred cows,” said a beef cattle expert in a recent podcast discussion. This strategy helps gradually improve reproductive efficiency across the herd.
The recommended goal is to shorten the calving window to 65 to 70 days. “Herds can have high reproductive efficiency within 65-70 days, which is the goal,” the expert added. Achieving this includes early breeding of heifers, releasing fertile bulls, and timing breeding with forage availability over several years.
While synchronization is sometimes considered to tighten calving windows, it is only useful if the herd is divided into smaller calving groups. However, “I don’t recommend doing that because the marginal gain is relatively small; it’s just a few cows each time I do that, that get moved forward,” the expert noted.
Producers should also consider cost implications and labour demands when planning changes. “Each situation is different as there is not a one-size fits all solution for calving windows,” the expert said. “You’ve added a lot of complexity and labor to cow management and (you need to determine if) that aligns with your other responsibilities.”
With patience and planning, producers can shift to a shorter calving season that improves herd performance and fits their management style.
Photo Credits:gettyimages-pamwalker68
Categories: Kansas, Livestock, Beef Cattle