- Implementation of a more effective nutrition and supplementation program
- A likely increase in weaning rates and weaning weights
- More marketing options
- Reduced labor
- Improved timing of herd health practices
The lack of a defined breeding season results in a less effective supplementation program where a sizable portion of the cows are often being over- or under-supplemented. If the supplementation program is designed to meet the needs of the lactating cows, then extra money is being spent on the dry cows.
Not having a defined breeding season can limit marketing options. It limits or prevents participation in certain marketing programs that require age certification. Additionally, it makes marketing tougher because there are fewer calves of the same age and size to market at one time, which may prevent a truckload lot from being put together or discourage producers from preconditioning calves.
A defined breeding season makes it much easier to match calf production with forage resources. This should result in increased weaning weights because the cows should produce more milk and the calves would also have access to better-quality forage. Additionally, a defined breeding season can prevent having calves born during times of the year that traditionally have unfavorable weather conditions.
A defined breeding season really shouldn’t last longer than about 90 days. If the season goes longer, then there is an increased likelihood of some of the earlier-born heifers getting bred by the herd bull. Heifer calves getting bred while still nursing the cow is a bigger problem than many realize and needs to be prevented.
Some hesitate to remove the bulls because they are worried about a cow not getting pregnant and missing a calf. There are a couple of ways to handle this. One thing some producers will do is remove the bulls at the end of the 90-day breeding season but then put a bull back with the cows at weaning and leave them until calving starts again. This allows the bulls to breed any cows that may have slipped after the breeding season or just didn’t get bred during the breeding season. Another option is to have two 90-day calving seasons (i.e., spring and fall); this should prevent most cows from going an entire year without having a calf.
