Ten Things to Consider
When Evaluating Moving
Calving Date
By Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska Extension
The severe weather of this last winter and spring
has prompted many cow-calf producers to
evaluate the potential of moving their calving
date to a different time of year. The following are
a list of ten things producers may want to think
through as they evaluate moving of a calving date.
1. How would the proposed move match cow
nutrient requirements with the quantity and quality
of available feed resources?
Grazed feed is most often less expensive than
harvested feed to get into the belly of a cow.
Moving time of calving to a time of year that
allows for greater use of grazed versus harvested
feed can be an advantage economically for
feeding the cow herd. The type of cow you
have in one season of calving may not fit
another season, due to forage quality and
nutrient requirements. Moving calving date may
decrease supplementation/feeding at certain
physiological states, but at the same time increase
resource needs at other periods of the year.
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2. How would the move impact the quality of feed
that is grazed or fed specifically in the window of
time from calving through breeding?
Cow-calf producers considering a move to
calving in later spring, which will result in cows
breeding on pasture or range in late summer,
will want to evaluate the potential impact of
this change on reproduction. Forage quality on
pasture and range tends to peak in late May and
June and then decline from July on into the fall.
Nutrient requirements are the highest at peak
lactation, which occurs on average right before
the start of breeding. The change in forage
quality with higher nutrient requirements can
impact reproduction. First-calf heifers and young
cows that are still growing may be challenged
nutritionally to have adequate protein and
energy to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates
when on a decreasing plane of nutrition in the
period prior to and through the breeding season.
Strategic supplementation may be needed right
prior to and through the breeding season to help
meet nutrient needs and achieve acceptable
pregnancy rates especially in higher risk females.