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The major and most recognized product produced by dairies is milk. In 2020, U.S. dairies produced 218,411 million pounds of milk, and Idaho dairies contributed 15,632 million pounds to the total production.
Weather is one of the most important factors affecting producers’ selection of calving season. This is closely linked to forage and feed availability. This undoubtedly creates a regional pattern in calving season across the nation.
What defines a fall-calving cow herd depends on the climate and resources available. Calving may occur from August to October in more northern climates and may be October to December on the Southern Plains.
A common fallacy among cow-calf producers is that as long as the cow is bred, it doesn’t matter when she calves – but this misconception can be cleared up.
It’s that time of year when my phone starts to ring and callers on the other end are desperate for me to triage their estrous synchronization dilemmas.
I think we can all agree that an open first-calf heifer is a costly “uh-oh” for our bottom line. Getting that heifer to calve the first time by her second birthday can be tough and expensive. After that, it would seem the hard work is done, but not so fast.
The 2021 calving season has most likely wrapped up for many of you and, more than likely, you have already started planning or may already be into your 2021 breeding season.
Managing for reproductive success actually begins prior to calving. Effective planning for reproductive health and limiting the impact of anestrus will ensure producers are setting their cows up for the breeding season.
“There’s one commonality with every cattleman I’ve talked to – they are all seeking higher productivity because they know it’s essential for profitability,” says rancher Deb Brown, who is president of the Irish Black Cattle Association. Deb Brown and Larry Licking founded Long Pines Land and Livestock in the far northwest corner of South Dakota, along the Montana border and only a few miles from North Dakota. Deb’s son, Sterling, is an active part of Long Pines, taking on more of the day-to-day management.
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