Bad calving weather

morgan in ar · Jan 10, 2019

Looking like a nasty weekend coming up. I hope those mama cows hold onto their calves until Monday. I have several on the ground already. I don't think there is much harder weather for cattle than soaking rain and temperatures in the 30's. We had a couple of days of cold soaking rain a little more than a week ago, and I had a very old cow go down. She never really recovered from calving before Christmas, and the foul weather was just too much. I just finished up putting out extra bales with the 68 GMC to keep their rumens full and warm. Then, I fed the orphaned calf, and finished up the day with some homemade/home grown lamb stew and cornbread to keep my belly full and warm. You all have a good evening!

SVcummins · Jan 10, 2019

The low pressure system will push em out just when you don?t want em to

72supr · Jan 10, 2019

Yep,a cold rain is tougher on a baby calf than anything they just never get dried off.We start the middle of March here.I like the 69 to 72 GM pickups. You got a picture of your rig.Good luck with the calving.

JD Seller · Jan 10, 2019

Why calve so early???? Your grass is still months away. So the calf and the cow both are stressed more and you have to provide more feed.

I have ran the numbers many times. The extra cost of early care and the higher mortality rate offsets any gain from heavier fall calves.

I calve in May/June. The cows are in knee high green grass. They are at their peak milk production.

All that aside low pressure fronts will cause cows to drop calves. Makes it tough if your spread out over several pastures to keep up with the needed care.

morgan in ar · Jan 10, 2019

I was planning for November, but my bull had other plans.

LAA · Jan 10, 2019

I'm a good bit south of the poster, we have grass growing year round although we do get some poor weather in December, January and early February, we still calve in December and January so the calves get the full benefit of the spring rush of grass, not just the cows. All cows have access to open pole barns with dirt floors and bedding which is mostly low quality hay I set inside and let them pick through it and scatter the rest, old cows come in the barn and younger cows generally tough it out.

Texasmark1 · Jan 11, 2019

"All that aside low pressure fronts will cause cows to drop calves." Had it happen many times. Question JD: Recon it is a basic instinct to protect the cow or what? Only thing that makes sense to me.

Bad calving weather

morgan in ar

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SVcummins

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72supr

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JD Seller

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morgan in ar

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LAA

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Texasmark1

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