By Scout Nelson
A simple change in feeding routines, moving cow feedings to dusk, is showing promising results in increasing the number of calves born during daylight hours. This practice not only facilitates easier monitoring and intervention by producers but also ensures calves receive a healthier start in the more manageable and warmer conditions of the day.
To encourage most of the beef females to calve during the day, producers should start feeding them at dusk two to three weeks prior to the expected calving season. The connection between feeding time and calving time seems to be hormonal, influenced by changes in rumen pressure and contractions.
Studies have observed that rumen contractions pick up just after feeding but slow down as calving approaches, with a notable drop in rumen pressure in the last stages of gestation and a more rapid decline during calving itself.
It's believed that feeding at night causes rumen pressure to increase overnight and decrease during the day, thereby influencing the timing of calving.
Evidence from several studies supports the efficacy of this method. In research conducted in Canada and Britain, 79% of cows fed later in the day calved during daylight hours. Similar outcomes were observed in field trials by cattlemen, where 74.5% of calves were born between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. following dusk feeding routines.
The most compelling data comes from a study of 1,331 cows across 15 farms in Iowa, where 85% of calves were born during the day after cows were fed once daily at dusk.
Implementing dusk feeding as a management strategy can significantly reduce the labor and stress associated with calving, making it a highly beneficial practice for producers looking to optimize their operations and ensure the well-being of their livestock during the calving season.
Photo Credit - gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Nebraska, Livestock, Dairy Cattle