Warmer weather brings planning for spring activities to get the new crop started. Most farmers give attention to preparing the tractors, tillage equipment, planters, and the seed inventory. However, if you have cattle, do not forget to give some attention to the cows and heifers preparing to calve.
Management and Nutrition Planning Check List
Cow BCS Implications.
When to begin the breeding season?
How long is the breeding season?
How much Bull power is needed?
The Body Condition Score (BCS) of cows entering the breeding season will have the most significant impact on breeding success. Cows need to be in a BCS of 5 or 6 for optimum pregnancy rates. See Table 1. If cows are under a BCS 5, supplemental nutrition will be needed and a good investment.
Table 1. BCS of Beef Cattle Impact on Pregnancy Rate
BCS | Pregnancy Rate % |
3 | 43 |
4 | 61 |
5 | 86 |
6 | 96 |
Kunkle et al., 1994
Deciding on when the breeding season begins depends on when you want to market the calves, the availability of forage to meet the cow’s nutritional needs and environmental conditions around the time of breeding and time of calving.
Two Start Dates – Cows and First Calf Heifers
Heifers having their first calf will need additional time to recover from calving to regain body condition. Heifers are still growing in addition to feeding a calf. Starting to calve heifers one month earlier than the cows will give them additional time to recover prior to breeding. Late calving heifers are likely to fall out of the desired calving window by their third or fourth calf. We need animals to stay in the herd for at least four to five calves to breakeven.
Length of Breeding Season
Most defined breeding seasons range from 45 to 90 days. The shorter 45-day breeding season may require some use of synchronization and either AI or extra bull power to service all the animals in 45 days. Typical bull power is one bull for 20-30 head, and if multiple bulls are needed in a pasture, they should be comingled prior to the breeding season so the bulls to establish a pecking order.
Non-Economic Considerations of Breeding Season Length
Money is not the only factor involved in deciding when to breed cattle. The cow-calf producer is using the limited resources of time and pastureland to grow grass, harvested by cattle or machinery so the cattle can turn the grass into meat to generate income. If all things align, there is a profit potential.
Possible Benefits of a 90, 60 or 45 Day Breeding Season
90 Day – labor saving and better able to manage groups of cow and calves.
60 Day – heavier calves and more uniform groups at weaning and potential for higher price per pound.
45 Day – management intense but least labor at calving and most uniform in calf size.
Considerations for Calving Season
When are time and grass available?
The ability to match forage availability to the cow’s nutritional demand.
What time and weather are best for cow and calf health?
Breeding Month | Calving Month | Warm Season Pasture Condition | Cool Season Pasture Condition | 180 Day Weaning Month | Calf Value, Index | Comment | |
FALL CALVING | January February March | October November December | D* D D | D D Early | April May June | 1.25 1.21 1.17 | Hay feeding or supplements needed. Crop harvest conflict. |
April | January | D | Good | July | 1.18 | Coldest Month | |
SPRING CALVING | May June July | February March April | Early Good Peak | Peak Good Good | August September October | 1.08 1.07 1.00 | Best match of cow needs to forage availability. |
Summer Heat | August September | May June | Peak Good | Slowing Mature | November December | 1.08 1.21 | Heat Stress reduced fertility |
Fall Mature Pasture | October November December | July August September | Mature D D | D D D | January February March | 1.38 1.33 1.32 | Heat Stress Declining quality and weaning in the mud |
*Calf Index Values uses October price as the base price and each month is a percent of October
*D - declining quality or dormant
Economic Impact of Length of Calving Season
The income generation benefit of shortening the calving season is not linear! You must consider how many animals are born earlier, the impact on total pounds available for sale and the improvement in price per pound when marketing the calves. With the current calf prices, the impact for a 100 cow herd could be over $8,000 of increased income. What changes or investment does your operation need to shorten the calving season? Supplementing the cows with a lick tub from Nelson Tubs can generate a positive return on investment (ROI).
General Assumptions for Calculations
The estrus cycle of beef cows is 21 days. Cows would have three or four chances to conceive in a 60 or 90 day breeding season, respectively. Assumptions for the calculations are 100 cows, 95 percent conception rate and 100% weaning rate resulting in 95 calves at weaning to sell. Average daily gain of the calf is 2.50 lb./day from birth to weaning. This example uses a sliding scale on calf price of $3.50 per pound for 4 weights to $3.20 for 6 weight calves.
Linear Calculations Do Not Capture The True Value.
Using the assumptions from above, the calves born one cycle earlier are worth 52.50 lbs. X $3.50 per pound = $183.75 more than calves born in the next 21 day cycle. For 95 calves sold for this 100-cow herd, the additional income generated is $17,456. However, this calculation does not consider the possibility of gaining a higher price per pound due to a more uniform group of calves. Another factor is the actual distribution of when calves are born, which impacts the total weight of calves sold.
Moving Calves Forward In A 90 Day Calving Season.
Assume that a herd starts with a 90 day calving season (Four heat cycles) with 25% of the calves born in each 21 day period. The income generated is $163,342. Moving eight calves one cycle forward, we now have 30%, 30%, 20% and 19% calving distribution. The income generated would be $165,508 for an increase of $2,166. Interestingly, the eight calves generated $271 more income per head when taking the age/weight distribution and better selling price into account compared to the $184 with the linear improvement.
Shortening The Calving Season To 60 Days.
The economic impact of shortening the calving season by 30 days is remarkable for income potential, time savings and reduced stress on the cattle producer. Let’s assume we have equal distribution across the 60 day season with one third (33%) of the calves born each 21-day period. The income generated is $169,910 for an increase of $6,568 over a 90-day evenly distributed calving period. Let’s move eight calves forward one cycle for 38%, 38% and 24% of calves per period. Total income generated is $171,275 for an increase of $7,933 over the 90 days even distribution. Those eight calves generated an additional $992.
Cattle producers have a terrific opportunity to generate significant income with the current calf prices. A shorter calving season and more calves born earlier can generate additional income improvement. Nelson Tubs have various low moisture lick tubs that can provide a nice ROI. Supplementing a 100 cow herd for 30 days is approximately a $1400 investment. The investment to supplement for 90 days is $4200 but would generate a 1.9 return on investment. That is not a bad return!
Comments