  BeefTalk:
Calving and Weaning Dilemmas Closely Connected by Weather
By Kris Ringwall, Extension Beef Specialist,
NDSU Extension Service
Is it easier to raise calves knowing spring is just around the corner or to wean
calves knowing winter is just around the corner?
That dilemma, which faces beef producers annually, was especially evident
this year in light of the cold March weather. Historically, most operators have
a calving date that is memorized and sealed because almost every event on the
operation is determined by when the bulls go out. At the North Dakota State
University Dickinson Research Extension Center, most of the cows are bred
artificially, so the bulls are not literally turned out, but the effect is the
same.
In recent years we have targeted March 1 as the start of calving, which means
breeding (bull turnout) occurred on May 21. Heifers have been bred the week
before the mature cows because only so many cows can be run through a facility
on any one day.
Tied to this schedule was the subsequent working dates for the calves. We
pull all the bulls following 42 to 45 days of bull exposure to provide a time to
work calves before turnout to summer pasture. Calving season is tough work.
Trying to schedule additional work days can be challenging given full feeding
days and a few poor calving days due to tough weather. The long and short of it:
We need all early calving cows to be calved by April 15. This provides two weeks
to work the calves before the May 1 turn out to crested wheat grass pasture,
which assures we don’t have to work calves on pasture and provides calves a
full potential to gain on the crested wheat grass.
North Dakota and the region produce bountiful cool season grass, which
results in excellent calf gain. Traditionally, bulls at the Dickinson Research
Extension Center were returned to the cows August 1, resulting in a May-June
cleanup calving season. The cleanup cows are calved on crested wheat grass, not
in the winter lots.
Backing up calving means turning the bulls out later. The March 1 calving
date at the Dickinson Research Extension Center has produced large, well-grown
calves, but calving really doesn’t start March 1. With the unpredictable
gestation length of cows, calving actually starts in mid February. This year was
no exception: the first calf was born on Feb. 12.
As cow-calf operations expand and skilled labor becomes increasingly scarce,
the question of when to calve becomes a serious issue. The obvious solution to
this problem would be to just calve later. However, there are often complicating
factors that need to be considered.
In reviewing the CHAPS records, the average calf has been gaining 2.3 pounds
per day. By delaying calving by two weeks, calves will average 32 pounds less if
producers preselect a date to weigh and sell in the fall. Is it easier to raise
calves knowing spring is just around the corner or wean calves when winter is
just around the corner?
Most of what producers do in the Upper Midwest is weather dependent. Save a
little here and you lose a little there. At the center, we are backing calving
off 10 days. This year, the heifer breeding dates will stay the same, but the
cows will start breeding on May 31. Calving should start March 11, with most of
those cows calving early in March instead of February. The work dates for a May
1, 2003 turnout to crested wheat grass pasture will still require calves to be
born by April 15, 2003 for optimum utilization.
Fewer calves in February will require more work in April and May. The Center
will lose the clean break in calving between the regular and late calving cows.
However, bulls will be pulled August 5 to eliminate late May or June calving. We
will see how it goes, but remember, moving cows later is easy; moving them
earlier is almost impossible. May you find all your ear tags.
Your comments are always welcome at www.BeefTalk.com.
For more information, contact the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement
Association, 1133 State Avenue, Dickinson, ND 58601 or go to www.CHAPS2000.COM
on the Internet. In correspondence about this column, refer to BT0088.
###
Source: Kris Ringwall, (701) 483-2427, kringwal@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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Graphic:
Breeding and Weaning Activity Schedule
NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center
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Bull Calving Weaning Weaning
Year Turnout Date Date Weight
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2001 May 21 March 1 November 8 605 lbs
2002 May 31 March 11 November 7 605 lbs (est.)
2003 May 30 March 10 November 6 582 lbs (est.)
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