About Us
County Impact Statements - Van Buren County
Beef Cattle Calving Season Project
Nick Jones, beef cattle producer in Van Buren County, took over a herd of
cattle owned by family members in late 1997. The cow herd of about 30 head was
calving year round. There was at least one calf born in every month in 1998. The
producer was getting the herd up at least four times during the year to
administer vaccinations and other herd health practices at the correct time.
The producer involved the Extension office to help in getting to a 90 day
calving season without losing revenue from the cow herd. The project began in
the fall of 1998 with the herd sire removed in September and returned to the cow
herd in January 1999. The bull was removed in August of 1999 and in 2000 the
bull was placed with the cow herd for 3 months, beginning April 1. The results
were that in 2001 the calves were all born within a 78 day period.
Nick Jones stated, "It makes it much easier to manage the herd when all of
the cows are all in the same stage of production. I now can evaluate my herd
with more accuracy since all of the cows and calves receive the same herd
management at the same time."
A 90 day calving season provides a uniform calf crop.
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Impacts
- Calving season allows for:
- Herd health program administered once or twice versus three to eight
times per year.
- Uniformity in calf crop.
- Accurate evaluation of calf weights as they reflect milk producing
ability and genetic capability of cow.
- Selective feeding of the cow herd, with cows all in same stage of
production.
- Selection of replacement heifers through cow herd performance program.
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