It is that time of year again: Spring Calving season. Calving season can be one of the busiest times of year for cattle producers. Along with being busy it is also one of the most important times of the year.
What happens during this time can have an impact on the overall health and performance of your calves. The steps that you take here can be the difference between an increased profit or just another year of barely getting by. So it is important that you do calving season right.
With everything that you will have going on there are many things that can go wrong. So I’ve compiled a list of 5 things that you can do to help ease some of the stress that comes with this season.
Calving season can be a very stressful time, for both you and the cow. Addressing the nutritional needs of your cow is very important after she has had her calf. There are many nutrient demands that she must take care of before she will be able to be rebred.
The lull before calving season begins is a good time to ensure that your cows are up to date. You should work them about 1 to 3 months before calving in order to ensure they will be on the right foot. This is also a good time to make some observations and to begin planning ahead. Here are some things to do before calving season begins.
As we have come to the middle of January that means that calving season is just about to start. Generally this time of year can be a pretty stressful on the producer. There are of course things that you can do to reduce that stress for you and your family. Here are some things you can do to prepare for this hectic time of year.
There have been many reports showing that cow-calf operators can increase their calf’s value by using a preconditioning program. While there is profit potential in doing this it is best to do your homework first. The two things you must consider when looking into preconditioning are the value of gain and the cost of gain.
With breeding season on it’s way now is a good time to get started getting the bull ready. Usually the cows are the main focus, but what about your bulls? Are they ready to service multiple cows during the breeding timeframe? Since just one will be providing 50% of the genetic material for your next calf crop you will want to make sure that he is ready to go.
Hard to believe that we are already in September; summer is over, temperatures are getting cooler (somewhat) and the days are getting shorter. With this time of year most people are focused on weaning and getting their cows rebred for next year’s calf crop. It is also important to have a supplement program in place during this time as well.
Calving season is one of the busiest times of year for a cattle producer. It is when all the work that you have put in throughout the year will begin to pay off. Many producers have already started with their calving season with others starting theirs soon.
