Page 40 - MWC 2-3-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 3, 2022 · P40
RANCHERS EXIT WINTER CALVING

FOR GREENER PASTURES

By Kurt Lawton, NRCS

back April blizzards in 2018 area,” Guptill says. “When I
and 2019 ended his belief last studied my costs seven
in safe mid-April calving. years ago, it cost us just
“When I got 12 inches of under $450 to wean per calf.
snow on April 15th, that was At that time, the average cost
the last straw for me—after to wean a calf in South Dako-
Mike Blaalid - J&M Ranch, Mitchell SD that, pushing calving dates ta, North Dakota, Nebraska,
back two weeks wasn’t a big Montana and Wyoming was
deal. $860.”
Cost savings, easier work- change requires less labor, “In 2021, I started calving Guptill realized his costs
load, better animal and feed and vet bills while deliv- on May 3. We had slow grass and labor dropped dramati-
rancher health are driving a ering more live calves born growth early due to cool cally when he stopped start-
shift to calve with nature in healthier on green grass. weather, but it really worked ing the tractor every day
South Dakota. This late May timing mirrors out well timing it with na- from November to April.
As ranchers tire of animal deer giving birth to fawns ture. As a result, I think the When he shifted from March
loss and human stress due when conditions are best for cattle stay in a little better to May calving, his diesel
to calving during extreme their survival. shape, and I don’t have to fuel use dropped from 1,200
March and April weather, Quality of life for cow, calf feed as much in the winter,” to 300 gallons. “All I do now
winter calving traditions are and rancher, along with im- he adds. is roll a bale of hay out every
being re-examined in South proved ranch profitability, Blaalid likes the easier other day or every third day,
Dakota. Instead, May and are the most significant rea- maintenance of the herd, so they get about 7 to 12 lbs.
June calving is becoming a sons these ranchers push where the animals spend of hay, given my year-round
valuable management tool of calving later. two to four weeks on grass grazing strategy,” he says.
choice. Blizzards change mindsets before they start calving. “I “That provides enough pro-
More ranchers are taking Rancher Mike Blaalid had can meet some of my grass tein to keep them going and
the calving with nature to always calved in early April goals of grazing and knock- help digest grass better.”
heart. Heifers and cows do on the J & M Ranch near ing back cool-season inva-
more of the work by calving Mitchell, SD. But back-to- sive grasses, and the cows March calving expense
during May and June. This can have healthier calves Ranchers understand the
on green grass. It just real- importance of high-quality
feed in winter to maintain
Missouri’s Largest Hereford Breeder Breeder
Missouri’s Largest Hereford ly works for me, and it’s less a cow’s body condition score
stress on everybody.”
(BCS) of 5.5 to 6 to calve in
Genetics Selected for: Cost savings beats tradition March and rebreed within
Genetics Selected for:
• • Fescue Tolerance Fescue Tolerance Quinn, SD rancher Pat 55 days. “That’s why March
• • Balanced TraitsBalanced Traits Guptill believes building calving is expensive,” Gup-
healthy rangeland soil com- till adds. “For our ranch, we
• • Calving EaseCalving Ease bined with later calving wean in March with cows at
• • FertilityFertility leads to better economics a BCS of 4 to 4.5. Then the
• • Performance Performance and the potential for year- cows gain weight from graz-
• • CarcassCarcass around grazing. ing March through mid-May.
“Since 80% of the cost to By May 20, our cows have a
wean a calf is winter feed BCS of 6 without buying any
Midwest’s Top Maternal Programwest’s Top Maternal Program costs, we cut our feed costs feed. Mother Nature feeds
Mid
almost in half by shifting to them across every acre of my
late-May calving, when the ranch.”
Over 40 Y deer are giving birth in our continued on page 42
Over 40 Years ears
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Oct. 1
Oct. 1
Your Brand of Herefordour Brand of Hereford
Y Darr A Hammer
11:00 a.m.
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Darr Ag Centerg Center
L L JOURNAGAN RANCHGAN RANCH MO shown with ™
Springfield,
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Marty Lueck, manager • 417-948-2669 or 417-838-1482arty Lueck, manager • 417-948-2669 or 417-838-1482
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Mountain Grove, MO 65711 • mvlueck@centurytel.net • JournaganRanch.comountain Grove, MO 65711 • mvlueck@centurytel.net • JournaganRanch.com