Shortening The Calving Season with Synchronization
Impact Statement
Since a majority of cattle sold in Meade County are feeder calves, they are sold by the pound. Therefore, the goal of all beef producers is to produce as heavy a calf as possible at the projected sale date. A big percentage of producers sale calves one time a year that vary 90 to 120 days in age. This means 50% of the calves are much younger and therefore lighter in weight. If beef producers would synchronize their cows so that a higher percentage of them are calving in the early part of the calving season, older, heavier calves would be sold at sale day. This spring 4 producers have agreed to use a few different synchronization methods on a total of 111 cows and heifers. Thrity one cows and heifers were synchronized and bred by artificial insemination, A.I. , after detecting heat. Eighty were synchronized and timed bred A.I. Ninety five percent of all animals were bred within a 96 hour period. Eighty one percent of the cows and heifers did show signs of cycling. The expected outcome is at least a 5% increase in calves born and at least 2500 lbs more calves being weaned due to older calves. A small on-farm study done last year cut the calving season on one producers farm from 98 days to 52 days. The producers calving rate went from 71% to 83%. The shorter calving season plus the e
xtra calves netted the prodecer over $1800.