Fact Sheet Written by:
Glenn Selk, Ph.D., Professor of Animal Science and Extension Cattle Reproduction Specialist
And Provided by
Oklahoma State University
Traditional calving seasons in the South Plains have been closely aligned with Mother Nature’s attempt to preserve the species Bos Taurus. With few exceptions, large mammals in the wild would deliver their offspring in springtime. The lactation
and attempts to rebreed would coincide with the growing of warm season plants for food. From that basis, cow/calf management schemes have centered around the traditional spring calving season with early summer breeding seasons necessary to produce a 285-day gestation, generating a spring calf the following year. As beef cow operations became more efficient, cowmen learned the advantages in labor management,
feed utilization, and market position that they gained by manipulating Mother Nature and creating a shorter more distinct calving season. In the Southwest, producers have been able to get the “jump” on their Northern Plains neighbors by starting the breeding season earlier in April or May, producing
February and March calves. Early spring calves could be weaned earlier in the fall ahead of the glut of northern calves or weigh more at weaning time because they were older. The Southern Plains and Southeastern cattle operations also had the additional option of utilizing cool season pastures with fall-calving cows producing calves ready to market in spring or summer.
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