Buffalo gnats pushed M.H. Brown, Jr., into fall calving. The rancher from Grand Saline, Texas, took a herd of cows that had been calving year round. He turns bulls in around Dec. 10 and pulls them out in mid-January, leaving only one cleanup bull with the herd until late February. After frost, cows get hay free-choice in addition to protein supplement. Beginning in late February, cows get access to ryegrass pastures for several hours three days a week.
Calves get unlimited access to green grass through creep-feeding gates.
Brown says this program has raised average weaning weights by 90 pounds since 1992. Click here . We'd like to hear from you. Your message will be posted to our bulletin board. First published November 2000.