Management
Trick Your Cows into Calving
in Daylight Hours
By David Burton, University of Missouri extension
Any producer wanting to have more cows and
heifers calve in daylight hours should try to delay
putting out hay and cubes until late in the day.
“This practice has been around since the 1970’s thanks to work
out of Canada. It may sound like an old wives’ tale, but it works
and has unbiased research behind it,” said Eldon Cole, a field
livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
According to Cole, there are numerous reasons
producers like calves to be born in daylight hours.
First, the temperature in the winter should be warmer
in the daytime so there is less of a chance of the calves
chilling. Second, if assistance is needed it should
be easier to find whether it is from a neighbor or a
veterinarian. The third reason could be less sleepless
nights for the owner or caretaker of the cows.
“The late feeding time should start at least four weeks
before the beginning of the calving season. Research trials
from Canada and the United States has varied the late
feeding time from 4 in the afternoon to 10 pm,” said Cole.
There are some problems if a producer has cattle on pasture
where they can graze all day long. Some southwest Missouri
cattle producers who strip-graze stockpiled fescue religiously
can wait until late afternoon to move the fence to fresh pasture.
“The class of females that are of most need for daytime
calving are first-calf heifers. If your management system
allows your feeding time to be altered to very late
afternoon, I would encourage you to try it,” said Cole.
Field studies and researchers all have seen daytime
calvings move to around 80 percent plus when
late in the day feeding is practiced. I
32 | FEBRUARY 2019