Calving Season.

February is calving season on the ranch. We keep the bred heifers in a pasture beside the barn, and when one goes into labor, we take her into a smaller pen away from the others. We keep watch and if she is having any trouble we can easily help her, or take her inside the barn if necessary.

The older bred cows we leave in pastures further away from the barn, because cows who have given birth at least once, usually have no problems with calving subsequent years.

One day this week my husband asked if I could help him get a calving heifer into the barn. These heifers are a bit feisty and don't always want to go where you ask, so I was running the gate for him. I took the chance to snap some photos of the cute lil calves.

Calving Heifers varies by ranch

Cattle ranches have different herd management methods when it comes to calving. Sometimes, the different opinions are very strongly held, and it can even cause a divide between ranchers.

Calving is one area where ranches can vary widely, depending on their herd management and ranching philosophy.

This ranch, like many others, breeds their cattle to calve in late winter. They start calving in February and are finished by April. Some ranches in Wyoming breed their cows to calve a bit later, starting in March or April, and finishing May or into June.

Benefits of Calving early

Some of the benefits of calving early is larger calf sizes at fall market, calves that are older at weaning are generally more resilient.

But the drawbacks are that the early calving can be taxing on both livestock and ranch hands. Often, someone will need to check on heifers around the clock, and in Wyoming the weather is pretty extreme in February and March. Calves can freeze quickly in the sub-zero temperatures, if not cared for quickly.

Benefits of calving late

The moderate weather in late spring is easier on both cows and calves (and cowboys!). If a calf has a bit of trouble when it is newborn, it won't freeze to death immediately. Hired hands tend to prefer calving when the weather is nicer! But when the calving ends later, that pushes branding later as well, and it can be hot and dusty at July brandings.

This lil guy wandered away from where he was supposed to be, so My Cowboy just picked him up and tucked him under his arm and took him back to mama.

Is it better to calve early or late?

This is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Each rancher has their own reasons for doing it the way they do, and sometimes that reason is simply because "this is how grandpa did it" so they continue family tradition without really questioning why. Most ranchers are reluctant to change. Many are resistant to younger newcomers to the ranching scene, and refuse to consider ideas that weren't passed down from previous generations.

Then, there is also the option to have your cows calve in the fall instead of the spring. None of the ranches we worked on have done this, so I am not familiar with this practice.

Cowboy carrying black calf under one arm with rope in other arm

I enjoy calving season on the ranch no matter if they calve early or late! Newborn calves are some of the cutest little baby animals! Their soft, clean hair and bright eyes are just amazing. I enjoy bottle-feeding them if they need it, but usually the momma cows are good mommas and there aren't many bum calves that need fed.

One time, my husband brought a bum calf into the laundry room on Valentine's Day! How surprised I was to find it! But sadly it did not survive.

Comments

Elizabeth Martin says

February 23, 2013 at 10:00 pm

I really like your blog!!! We are in the middle of calving too!!! Lot of work to be sure - great photos!!!

Hey - I also co-author a blog called Faces of Agriculture. We would love to feature your ranch! check us out at http://www.facesofagriculture.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Calving Heifers varies by ranch

Benefits of Calving early

Benefits of calving late

Is it better to calve early or late?

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