Thoughts during a blizzard

[Cal]

I was sure hoping that global warming would help out with calving, but turns out that's a crock. :roll:

Our heifers are calving now, and it hasn't been too bad. It's either really sloppy, or really rough and frozen getting them in to the barns right now, though. Went to Merriman and had some more aggressive tires put on a couple of the ATVs the other day....turned out to be a good thing......

Keep us updated through the next year, Big Swede. It might be something we'd consider someday, just because of the labor deal. We've been running some yearlings anyway, the last few years, and it's worked out pretty good, could do that with some of the younger calves. We don't usually turn pairs into any Sandhills pastures until after wheat harvest, but ran some yrlngs through them first, and you couldn't even tell that they'd been there......almost like a freebie. :wink:

 

[Hanta Yo]

Don't forget about fall calving, guys. Hardly any work at all...and I NEVER had to use the warming box :!:

We bought short term bred cows last March to calve April/May. We had rain, and snow and rain and snow. More work calving those 70 hd of grannies than 300 hd of our cows in the fall!!!! Even our 1st calf heifers calving in the fall outdid the grannies in the spring as far as labor. Just reminded me why we changed entirely to fall calving.........

You may ask, why, then are we calving grannies in the spring? We made a good profit on 26 grannies + their calves the year before. This 70 head of grannies actually cost us, we should have sold them in Sept. rather than Nov. I also know who not to buy grannies from

 

[Big Swede]

The main reason for summer calving instead of fall calving is trying to match the cows nutrition needs to the time of year. Taking a lesson from the deer and elk tells me that early May is the most natural time for birth. I once heard that if man disappeared and all the cows were on their own for a 100 years they would all through natural selection, be calving in May and June. Kind of makes sense to me.

 

[Blkbuckaroo]

The main reason for summer calving instead of fall calving is trying to match the cows nutrition needs to the time of year. Taking a lesson from the deer and elk tells me that early May is the most natural time for birth. I once heard that if man disappeared and all the cows were on their own for a 100 years they would all through natural selection, be calving in May and June. Kind of makes sense to me.

When other animals are giving birth,it also takes some of the stress of worrying about predetors going after your calfs,since there'll be deer,elk, moose,what have you giving birth and not just your calves out there.One or two winter like days in may or june isn't real significant here,gets a little muddy,but once the sun comes out it's drys quick.The only thing i could see,would be being behind the market a bit,but early next year when everyones calving in winter and does'nt have anything for sale,you'll have big fat calves for market.Kinda like Kato said,if everyone goes to the market at the same time :? .Not to mention i got the bull in late :wink:

 

[Big Swede]

Being behind the market is kind of what I am shooting for. Supply and demand works every time. When the demand is there during the spring for grass calves I would like to have the supply.