Profitability is something that is extremely important and is something that is on a lot of our minds. One practice that can make a big difference is to have a defined breeding, and therefore, a defined calving season. Having a controlled breeding season of 60-90 days is associated with reduced annual costs per cow and increased profitability. One study showed that each additional day in the breeding season resulted in decreased average pounds of calf weaned per cow per year by 0.16 pounds and increased the annual cost of producing 100 pounds of weaned calf by 4.7 cents. This may not seem like much, but a year-round breeding season (365 days) would result in 45.82 fewer pounds of calf per cow per year on average than a 75-day breeding season. When this happens with multiple calves, it can add up quickly. Without a defined breeding season, it is also easy to miss a cow that is late, or didn’t calve that year at all, meaning there is no money back for what you’ve put in. There are other financial benefits to having a calving season like being able to perform recommended management practices, like vaccinating and pre-conditioning. It also allows for a uniform group of calves to be marketed together, all of which adds value. In a 2016 study, increasing lot size from a one-head lot to a five-head lot increased calf value on average by approximately $17/head in Oklahoma auctions with an increase of approximately $25/head for a ten-head lot over a one-head lot.
Other benefits include:- Greater reproductive management - selecting females that get bred early
- More effective use of forage/feed - everyone in the herd being in the same stage of production allows to feed for similar nutritional needs
- Not having to worry about pregnant cows with MLV
- Allows for estrous sync and AI to be implemented
Transitioning to a defined breeding season may take time and effort, but could be well worth it for your bottom line.
