Even though this is a fairly bold statement I would agree that the number of cows calving in their first cycle should be higher than 60 percent which in return would make the second cycle of cows calving lower and no greater than 25 percent. If this is not happening a producer may want to look at the fertility of the bulls used or may want to think about a different management strategy for the next years breeding season since it is not to far away. Since your cows ordinarily cycle within 80 days of calving and settle at close to the same time every year(if you turn your bulls out around the same time every year) the percentage of cows calving in the first 21 days should stay fairly close. Most producers in my area don't worry so much about cows calving in the first or second cycle they just worry about whether or not they breed in the spring like they are supposed to as opposed to fall. I believe numbers such as these should be taken into consideration because if the percentage of your first cycle cows(typically your money makers) is under 60 percent you as a producer are probably going to be losing money later on with smaller calves come weaning time and cows rolling over to fall.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Evaluation of Your Calving Herd
The calving season is starting to slow down for producers in the Midwest as we draw closer towards the end of April. Producers can use this time to go back and evaluate their cow herd to see how well their cows conceived and see how many may have missed a cycle or may be going to fall. According to Kris Ringwall, from NDSU Extension Beef Specialist, if the percentage of cows calving the first 21 days of the calving season is less than 60 percent and the percentage of cows calving the second 21 days of the calving season is greater than 25 percent, a serious re-evaluation of the herd needs to occur.
Even though this is a fairly bold statement I would agree that the number of cows calving in their first cycle should be higher than 60 percent which in return would make the second cycle of cows calving lower and no greater than 25 percent. If this is not happening a producer may want to look at the fertility of the bulls used or may want to think about a different management strategy for the next years breeding season since it is not to far away. Since your cows ordinarily cycle within 80 days of calving and settle at close to the same time every year(if you turn your bulls out around the same time every year) the percentage of cows calving in the first 21 days should stay fairly close. Most producers in my area don't worry so much about cows calving in the first or second cycle they just worry about whether or not they breed in the spring like they are supposed to as opposed to fall. I believe numbers such as these should be taken into consideration because if the percentage of your first cycle cows(typically your money makers) is under 60 percent you as a producer are probably going to be losing money later on with smaller calves come weaning time and cows rolling over to fall.
Even though this is a fairly bold statement I would agree that the number of cows calving in their first cycle should be higher than 60 percent which in return would make the second cycle of cows calving lower and no greater than 25 percent. If this is not happening a producer may want to look at the fertility of the bulls used or may want to think about a different management strategy for the next years breeding season since it is not to far away. Since your cows ordinarily cycle within 80 days of calving and settle at close to the same time every year(if you turn your bulls out around the same time every year) the percentage of cows calving in the first 21 days should stay fairly close. Most producers in my area don't worry so much about cows calving in the first or second cycle they just worry about whether or not they breed in the spring like they are supposed to as opposed to fall. I believe numbers such as these should be taken into consideration because if the percentage of your first cycle cows(typically your money makers) is under 60 percent you as a producer are probably going to be losing money later on with smaller calves come weaning time and cows rolling over to fall.
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