Shortening the calving season is among the most effective practices a cow-calf producer can implement. Improving early calving frequency increases weaning weight and en-hances carcass value. Two recent university reports evaluated the result of shortening the calving season on cow, calf and economic performance. Interestingly, the projects occupied opposite ends of the calving season spectrum: A 60-day breeding season re-duced to 45 days, and 270+ -day average calving sea-sons reduced to less than 90 days. (A 2009 USDA survey found 54.5% of all beef cow operations had no set calving season.)
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