fall vs spring

[RochholzFarms]

which is better for calfin fall or spring? i want to hear your opion

 

[kfacres]

which is better for calfin fall or spring? i want to hear your opion

we calve everything in the fall, almost always have done it that way.

we figure.. the markets' always better in the spring, and the sheds are full in jan. feb. 

makes it easier on us to calve in the fall, let them nurse all winter, and then wean and sell when the grass comes on and the prices skyrocket.

and no pittiful weather in sept/ oct.

 

[Mueller Show Cattle]

Depends on your location. Everyone calves in Spring (March/April) around here. Lot of calves would die around here that were born in fall if they were not in barns because they would not tolerate the really cold temps and heavy snow. In the spring they have all spring and summer plus some of fall to put weight (muscle and fat) on before winter comes because once it comes there is no mercy by mother nature and still see some spring calves not make it, would be alot more if they were fall born calves.

 

[flacowman]

It depends on where you're at and when your best market is.  For us fall is the only option as calves will not grow nearly as well in the summer heat as they will on winter grazing and our best market is spring and early summer.  As big M stated, your situation is probably much more dependent on winter weather than summer as ours is.

 

[JTM]

Spring is much better in the midwest because of the amount of forage available for the cows and the calves that are nursing. It is also much better and healthier if you can keep them calves out on pasture with their mommas and not bring them in the barn like what has to be done a lot of times when winter rolls in. Fall forage is always a toss up whether or not it will be there.

 

[ZNT]

Here is a blog I wrote last year about this exact topic.

http://www.zntcattle.com/2010/04/spring-vs-fall-calving.html

 

[nate53]

We have always had spring calvers and our fall calving herd started with a bad bull.  Over the years our fall herd has grown and is now bigger than the spring group.  Personally I like the falls alot better, we get better conception rates vrs. the spring group and there just isn't the weather related problems in the fall, so in other words we get a higher percentage live calves, we lost two out of over a hundred head last year and it had nothing to do with the weather.  We calve from SEpt. - Nov. and wean in March or early April, the calves winter fine, no buildings to get into, (had 2 ft. snow in Feb. this past year and they did fine).  The cows do need more feed over the winter than the springs but then they need less feed over the spring and summer than the spring group and boy do the fall calvers get fat over the spring and summer!  Most people still spring calve, so basically all those calves hit the market about the same time wether it's off the cow or out of the feedlot so prices usually aren't quite as good then (usually not always).  Disclaimer - This is North East Missouri so results will vary upon your own area.  By all means don't everybody agree with these statements because I do not want to switch back to more springs.

 

[kfacres]

We have always had spring calvers and our fall calving herd started with a bad bull.  Over the years our fall herd has grown and is now bigger than the spring group.  Personally I like the falls alot better, we get better conception rates vrs. the spring group and there just isn't the weather related problems in the fall, so in other words we get a higher percentage live calves, we lost two out of over a hundred head last year and it had nothing to do with the weather.  We calve from SEpt. - Nov. and wean in March or early April, the calves winter fine, no buildings to get into, (had 2 ft. snow in Feb. this past year and they did fine).  The cows do need more feed over the winter than the springs but then they need less feed over the spring and summer than the spring group and boy do the fall calvers get fat over the spring and summer!  Most people still spring calve, so basically all those calves hit the market about the same time wether it's off the cow or out of the feedlot so prices usually aren't quite as good then (usually not always).  Disclaimer - This is North East Missouri so results will vary upon your own area.  By all means don't everybody agree with these statements because I do not want to switch back to more springs.

couldn't of said it better myself, obviously I tried but failed the first time. ditto it all..  I think it was the voices inside my head destracting my fingers at the keypad.

What part of NE MO?  How far from Hannibal or Keokuk? 

 

[vanridge]

We calve in February, only because my husband works 6 days a week for a farmer and when April hits he's quite busy getting machinery ready. This way if something needs to be done I can call him and he can come home. The one thing we noticed is that when it gets muddy most calves are big enough to make it through without scours and can handle the unpredictable weather better. Gotta watch for frozen ears though...

 

[nate53]

We have always had spring calvers and our fall calving herd started with a bad bull.  Over the years our fall herd has grown and is now bigger than the spring group.  Personally I like the falls alot better, we get better conception rates vrs. the spring group and there just isn't the weather related problems in the fall, so in other words we get a higher percentage live calves, we lost two out of over a hundred head last year and it had nothing to do with the weather.  We calve from SEpt. - Nov. and wean in March or early April, the calves winter fine, no buildings to get into, (had 2 ft. snow in Feb. this past year and they did fine).  The cows do need more feed over the winter than the springs but then they need less feed over the spring and summer than the spring group and boy do the fall calvers get fat over the spring and summer!  Most people still spring calve, so basically all those calves hit the market about the same time wether it's off the cow or out of the feedlot so prices usually aren't quite as good then (usually not always).  Disclaimer - This is North East Missouri so results will vary upon your own area.  By all means don't everybody agree with these statements because I do not want to switch back to more springs.

couldn't of said it better myself, obviously I tried but failed the first time. ditto it all..  I think it was the voices inside my head destracting my fingers at the keypad.

What part of NE MO?  How far from Hannibal or Keokuk? 

About half hour from Hannibal and about 45 min. from Quincy IL.

 

[kfacres]

awesome, I work in the next county east of Quincy.. and was just over in MO a week or so ago.  Went to the Elsbury Plant research lab for a field day, south of Hannibal a ways.