The Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast: Pros and Cons of Fall-Calving Systems with Dr. Robin Falkner

Pros and Cons of Fall-Calving Systems with Dr. Robin Falkner

Calving seasons vary across the country and they can even vary across the road depending on operational goals. Marketing strategy is one factor that can shift calving periods for ranches.

"About sixty to sixty-five percent of our calf crop is born in February, March, and April," shares Dr. Robin Falkner. Falkner is currently a technical service veterinarian for Elanco Animal Health but has served producers via private practice and extension prior to this role.

While the majority of cattle are born during specific months of the year, cattle need to be harvested year around. Fall calving can put ranchers at an advantage when done strategically.

"That creates a price basis between calves that are born in the spring and those born in the fall,” explains Falkner. “And calves born in the fall bring more money, often way more than what it costs an additional management."

This price basis is an attractive reason to shift a calving season to fall, but ranchers also make this shift to improve health outcomes too.

"Oftentimes what we call spring calving now is winter calving,” says Falkner. "We end up with cattle that have significant weather stress from cold weather."

Cold weather or other environmental factors like mud or confinement can increase stress and increase calf susceptibility to scours and respiratory illness. Warmer and drier fall temperatures naturally reduce stress on cows, calves and humans. However, an appropriate fall calving window must be recognized for geographical regions.

"Fall calvers have to be better managers,” says Falkner.....



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