When most people think of calves, they picture spindly legged miniature cows frolicking in green grass and wildflowers during the spring. But many cattlemen choose to breed for a fall calf crop. There are a lot of pros to running a breeder cattle operation this way – but there are also some aspects of fall calving to bear in mind that are a bit different than when cows calve in the spring. So just what should you consider when breeding for a fall season crop of calves?
Lighter Birth Weights
“Fall-calving females tend to have lighter birth weights on their calves due to the hot weather they’ve experienced,” said University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Eldon Cole. The blood flow pattern of cows in hot weather changes to disperse heat from the body – this creates less blood flow in the cow’s inner core, and this in turn leads to a lighter calf. Lighter calving weights usually mean easier calving on the cows or heifers – so you might want to consider breeding your first calf heifers for a fall calving season. But keep in mind that lighter fall calves can sometimes be weaker than their heavier spring counterparts – so you’ll want to monitor your fall calves closely to ensure that they are receiving proper nutrition and care from the cows, and yourself.
Shade
Fall is often thought of as a cooler time of year. But if your cows are calving during ‘early’ fall, temperatures can often still be high enough to warrant some shade. “Shade or cool areas may be needed in early fall calving,” said Jeff Parmley, Oklahoma State University Extension ag educator. “Sometimes man-made shelters block air movement, so trees and shade areas are more beneficial in the early fall providing cool areas.” If possible, house your cow herd in a pasture with some large trees to provide a reprieve from the heat until the cooler autumn temperatures move in.
Forages
If you will be rebreeding in the fall, there are some things to consider about the forages that are available at that time. “With fall calving, the cows will be rebreeding while grazing a cool-season grass like fescue, wheat, rye or strictly on hay. If feeding a low-quality forage or hay, then supplements will be needed,” Parmley said. (Supplemental feed can come in the form of a grain mix, or breeder cattle cubes.) He noted that spring calving cows are typically rebred with adequate spring and warm-season grass production.
Equipment
While calving equipment doesn’t vary much between fall and spring calving seasons, it’s important to make sure your calving kit is up to snuff no matter what time of year it is. If your herd will be calving in early fall, you’ll want your kit to be ready for action a week to 10 days prior to your first calving date – cows bred for early fall calving (August-September) will often go into labor four to six days earlier than cows bred for late fall calving (October), according to an article written by Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist. Your calving kit should include items like obstetrical chains and handles, lubricant, towels, colostrum, electrolytes, bottles with rubber nipples, syringes, penicillin and oxytocin for a clean-up shot.
One of the most important things is to check your cows and heifers often during calving. Tammy Holder, Professor of Agriculture and Beef Farm Manager at College of the Ozarks, recommends checking cows morning and afternoon, and more frequently if a cow is showing signs of labor. With preparation and observation, your fall calving season can go off without a hitch.
