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Time of feeding influence on calving
South Dakota State University Extension | Updated: February 13, 2012
As calving is rapidly approaching for many of you, there are some management factors you can take into consideration to help influence a larger percentage of your cows to calve during the daylight hours. This may not be something that you have given a lot of thought, but just think if you could save one more calf, how that would affect your bottom line.
Numerous research projects and on-farm studies have determined that by feeding cows in the evening, the likelihood of them calving during daylight hours increases significantly. One study in Iowa that compiled data from 15 farms and included 1,331 cows showed that 85% of the calves were born between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. when the cows were fed once a day at dusk. There was no difference in the results if the cows were started on this feeding regimen the week before calving or two or three weeks earlier.
There are some implications to this information that need to be addressed. First, the physiological mechanism for this occurring is not well understood, however it is thought to be associated with intraruminal pressures, which begin to fall within two weeks of calving. By feeding at night, it causes the intraruminal pressures to rise at night and decrease during the day, which subsequently has a result of transitioning calving to daytime. Secondly, this can have an effect on human labor needs and calf mortality. When more cows calve during daylight hours, they are observed more frequently and can be assisted more effectively, if needed. In addition, calves are warmed by sunlight, and more likely to receive colostrum in the first 6 hours of life. The third thing to consider is that you likely don't have your cows and your heifers together, so which group is it going to be most critical that you follow this feeding system. The answer is the heifers. They typically need more assistance than mature cows and if you can assist them in the daylight hours, the calf has a greater chance of survival.
This management system won't transition 100% of your cows to calve during the day, but on average, research indicates that the change will be from about 50% calving during the day, if fed in the morning, to about 80% calving during the day, if fed in the evening.
Source: Adele Harty
South Dakota State University Extension | Updated: February 13, 2012
As calving is rapidly approaching for many of you, there are some management factors you can take into consideration to help influence a larger percentage of your cows to calve during the daylight hours. This may not be something that you have given a lot of thought, but just think if you could save one more calf, how that would affect your bottom line.
Numerous research projects and on-farm studies have determined that by feeding cows in the evening, the likelihood of them calving during daylight hours increases significantly. One study in Iowa that compiled data from 15 farms and included 1,331 cows showed that 85% of the calves were born between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. when the cows were fed once a day at dusk. There was no difference in the results if the cows were started on this feeding regimen the week before calving or two or three weeks earlier.
There are some implications to this information that need to be addressed. First, the physiological mechanism for this occurring is not well understood, however it is thought to be associated with intraruminal pressures, which begin to fall within two weeks of calving. By feeding at night, it causes the intraruminal pressures to rise at night and decrease during the day, which subsequently has a result of transitioning calving to daytime. Secondly, this can have an effect on human labor needs and calf mortality. When more cows calve during daylight hours, they are observed more frequently and can be assisted more effectively, if needed. In addition, calves are warmed by sunlight, and more likely to receive colostrum in the first 6 hours of life. The third thing to consider is that you likely don't have your cows and your heifers together, so which group is it going to be most critical that you follow this feeding system. The answer is the heifers. They typically need more assistance than mature cows and if you can assist them in the daylight hours, the calf has a greater chance of survival.
This management system won't transition 100% of your cows to calve during the day, but on average, research indicates that the change will be from about 50% calving during the day, if fed in the morning, to about 80% calving during the day, if fed in the evening.
Source: Adele Harty