Fall Calving is Viable Choice for Some Producers by Teres Lambert for the Red Angus Magazine
the weather is more cooperative. Watt Brothers Farm, who has been fall-calving their 200 head of mama cows for about 10 years, prefers to calve “when it’s a little hot versus a snowbank situation.”
Fall calving is a once overlooked management strategy that is gaining in popularity as long-held misperceptions are dispelled and the benefits of fall calving are discovered. Dr. Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist, Oklahoma State University, is among those within the cow-calf segment who changed his thoughts about fall calving after in-depth discussions with Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University emeritus Extension animal scientist. Having grown up in Montana cowcalf country, Peel said he once had a “simple view of fall calving.” And, before discussions with Selk, Peel’s view wasn’t a positive one: “Fall calving just didn’t make sense. A cow lactating during winter equated to higher feed bills. “Glenn finally convinced me to think differently,” Peel said. “I now understand that you need to manage that fall-calving cow on a year-round basis and that managing a fall-calving cow is different than managing a spring-calving cow. “This knowledge, coupled with marketing advantages, better weather at calving, etc., makes fall-calving a great option for certain producers.” Fall-calving season – calving August through October or September
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Dr. Darrell Peel
Dr. Glenn Selk
through November – has historically found more favor in the southern half of the country compared to the northern simply because of climate conditions. But today, producers understand that no one calving and breeding season fits every ranch across the country and tradition can be broken. As a result, fall calving is finding a place in northern climates and middle-tier states as well. “Anywhere in the fescue belt, fall calving is a homerun,” said Harold Bertz, director of commercial marketing for the Red Angus Association of America, who is involved in his family’s commercial cow-calf operation in Missouri that is 100% fall calving. “A fall-calving herd is a lot more hands off since you don’t have to fight the weather when heifers and cows calve.” Cow-calf producer Andy Gant, Watt Brothers Farm, Leoti, Kansas, echoed Bertz’s favor for calving when
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While Watt Brothers Farm may lose a calf or two due to heat stress, Gant said he appreciates calving in grass. Availability of Grass Gets Brownie Points Bertz pointed out that a big advantage for his operation is that high-quality forage is available right after fall females calve. He added that high-quality forage is also available after calves are weaned. Gant said he appreciates the fact that his cows have all summer on grass before they calve. “Our cows are in great shape when they calve,” he said. “And we have had zero trouble maintaining them. We farm so we have the stalks. That said, we keep plenty of protein in front of them – and that helps.” Marketing Opportunities Proponents of fall calving are quick to point out that fall-born calves enter the market when supply is low and demand is high, and marketing calves at non-traditional times of the year can result in calves garnering a premium.
