Thinking About Summer Calving?
Here are some points to ponder.
A move to summer calving isn't a decision that should be made lightly. But it might be a decision worth considering, suggests Dave Pratt of Ranch Management Consultants. Pratt teaches the Ranching for Profit courses around the country, and offers this advice to ranchers who are pondering a change to their calving season:
Foremost, ranchers must recognize that fighting nature is expensive financially and physically, says Pratt. "Our most profitable alumni (those who have taken the Ranching for Profit course) use nature as a role model. Assuming that a property is suited to having cows year-round, then selecting a calving season that fits nature's cycles will generally minimize capital investment, production costs, time and energy."
Pratt acknowledges that calving early is a more productive strategy, but he adds, "The most productive business is often the least profitable."
The gross margin from winter calving may not be that much different from calving later, he points out. "The cost of hay may be offset by the value of weaning more weight per cow. The big economic difference often comes from drastic reductions in the overhead costs associated with feeding hay."
He adds, "An important part of a late calving strategy is developing an effective winter grazing program so that you can ration winter forage and control cow body condition."
For producers who are ready to make the switch, Pratt also advises, "Keep in mind that if your cow herd has been selected for March calving, it may not be particularly fit for May/June calving. You may spend a few seasons getting the herd right.
He also cautions against taking "half measures." Pratt explains, "Some producers think that maybe they ought to be calving in May or June, so they shift their calving date by two or three weeks each year. This is usually the worst possible strategy. They have all of the costs of the old way and don't have the full advantage of the new way. People need to figure out where they need to be and then make the change to minimize the transition period."
As a final piece of advice, Pratt adds, "Changing the calving season won't do much good if you ought not have cows in the first place, or at least ought not have cows year-round." He encourages analyzing each enterprise on the ranch to determine the most profitable strategy.