– Dr. Katie VanValin, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Kentucky
Fall-calving offers a unique opportunity to work with mother nature.
Approximately 70% of the nation’s cow herd calves between January 1st and June 30th each year, typically calving in February and March, a breeding season ranging from May through July, and weaning calves in the fall. On the other hand, those with fall calving herds will calve in September and October, breed from December to February, and wean in the spring. While fall-calving herds are in the minority and may seem to “go against the grain,” this system offers producers unique opportunities to work with mother nature, especially in the fescue belt.
Environmental conditions are often more favorable for fall calving, starting with calving. While heat can be an issue, especially for calves born early, the cold, wet, and muddy conditions often seen in February and March are a non-issue. Cool-season forages pick up again in the fall as the summer heat begins to subside, providing a forage base for the lactating cows. Tall fescue stockpiles well and can be a good option for helping to maintain the fall calving herd. One downfall to fall calving that I often hear talked about is the need to overwinter both the lactating cow and her calf. While this is true, and conserved forage plus energy supplementation is often required to meet the nutritional requirements of the lactating cow, these costs can be offset by marketing calves into what is typically a seasonally higher market in the spring.
One of the most significant environmental differences between spring and fall calving herds is observed during the breeding season. Heat stress occurs when the combination of temperature and humidity reaches a threshold that causes cattle to generate or take on more heat than they can dissipate. Heat stress is compounded by cattle experiencing fescue toxicosis because of the vasoconstrictive effect of the ergot alkaloids found in endophyte-infected tall fescue. Heat stress has profound impacts on reproduction in both the cow and the bull, including temporary infertility. As our climate continues to change, periods of heat stress may become more prevalent during the typical May-July breeding season for spring calving herds, and of course, this will be exacerbated in herds grazing endophyte-infected fescue during this time. Fall-calving herds can avoid complications from heat stress during a winter breeding season. Profitability in the cow-calf sector starts at breeding by getting cows bred on time. In the mid-south, we are more likely to encounter challenges from mother nature during the spring-summer breeding season than during fall-winter.
Weaning is another critical dichotomy between the spring and fall calving seasons. With spring calving herds weaning in the fall, producers looking to pre-condition or background their calves may have limited forage resources for both the cow herd and weaned calves. Fall-calving cows weaning in the spring are often weaned at a time when grass growth is plentiful, and it can often grow faster than our cow herd can graze it. Keeping with the theme of working with mother nature, one consideration with fall calving herds is to delay weaning until calves are a bit older. Running fall-born calves on grass can be a great way to take advantage of the relatively cheap cost of gain while adding value and pounds to the calf. Once calves have reached 5-6 months of age, the cow produces much less milk compared to peak lactation, as the calf, at this point, is getting most of its nutrients through grazing. Keeping the calf on the cow a bit longer in the spring can also help to prevent fall cows from becoming overly conditioned after weaning. By delaying weaning later into spring, fall calving producers can also avoid the cool, wet, and muddy conditions often seen in March. March in the mid-south seems to be one of the dreariest months of the year, and I have found myself saying on more than one occasion, “I don’t like weaning in March for the same reasons I don’t like calving in March.”
Nearly ¾ of the nation’s cow herd calves in the first part of the year, and there is a reason for that. As a nutritionist, I know fall calving has its challenges, and managing winter feeding is a big one. It is critically important that those fall-calving cows don’t lose condition during the breeding season while typically consuming stored forages. However, when considering the big picture or the overall system, fall calving can have much to offer cow-calf producers in the fescue belt. In the fall calving system, we can work with Mother Nature and avoid extreme heat and fescue toxicosis during the breeding season and cold, wet, and muddy conditions at both calving and weaning (if timed correctly). In return, fall calving herds can market calves at a time of the year when markets are expected to reach their seasonal highs. Fall calving won’t be for every operation, but it is something to consider when managing cows in the fescue belt. Sometimes it pays to go against the grain.