George- unless you have a reason to have to calve early (farming, job, mud situation, whatever) I'd think one more time before I moved up too far.....
For 50 years we turned bulls out on the 4th of July and calved in April- May...Few years ago when I had more time on the place and felt spry ( and we had had several beautiful Febs and Marchs)- I start moving it up thinking I could get bigger calves in the fall- until I was calving first of March...Then we got a couple winters of 2 weeks straight of 20 below weather and blizzards the beginning of March- checking cows every hour, calves froze to the ground even tho you checked them an hour ago, frozen ears- sick calves- dummy calves-dead calves---2-3 weeks of no sleep- grumpy wife- grumpy kids- even grumpier Oldtimer...Told myself I don't need to do this... :wink:
I compromised with myself- moved bull turnout to June 10-calving to March 20th- mainly to get them mostly calved out before the hayfields start growing....Still can get some cold, storms, and problems- but the likelihood is less....
All depends on your weather, climate and set up with buildings and stuff- but remember this year even those little calves were worth $700- if they lived til fall...