A video produced by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) can help producers calculate the benefits of tightening up the calving season, to increase the pounds of beef produced by weaning.
According to the BCRC, calving distribution is the percentage of calves born in each 21-day cycle throughout the calving season. Each time a cow is not bred during a 21-day heat cycle, it can cost up to 39 lbs. of weaning weight (assuming an average daily gain on calves of 1.85 lbs./day).
There are many benefits of a shortened calving season
- Having more calves born in the first 21 days of the calving season allows producers to market larger, more uniform groups of calves and increase their profit potential.
- It increases cow longevity.
- Heifers born earlier have higher pregnancy rates, remain in the herd longer and produce one more calf in their lifetime compared to those that calve in later periods.
- Herd vaccinations are easier to time.
- Increased uniformity allows easier comparison between calves.
The industry recommendation for calving season length is 63 days for cows and 42 days for heifers. BCRC says this shines light on breeding management beyond a pregnancy rate. While high pregnancy rate is desired, there are potential economic losses if producers don’t have 60 per cent of their cows calving in the first 21 days.
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The BCRC’s Value of Calving Distribution Calculator allows producers to see what their current calving distribution is and what the short-term economic benefit would be if they move to the industry target of 60-25-10-5, or a condensed breeding season of three cycles.
That 60-25-10-5 refers to 60 per cent of females calving within the first cycle, followed by 25 per cent calving between 21-42 days, 10 per cent between 42-63 days and the remaining five per cent calving in the fourth and final cycle.
It is important to remember that any increase in revenue from having more calves born earlier in the calving season (and therefore heavier weaning weights) needs to take into account the cost of achieving that outcome. Some examples of cost factors are:
- Prepartum nutrition management to reach desired body condition score
- Increased risk of open cows
- Time, labour and facility if estrus synchronization or artificial insemination is used
The cost of implementing any of these options will vary based on a farm’s setup.
