It is the most important economic characteristic in commercial cow-calf herds. Those cows not calving or failing to wean a live calf cost about the same to feed and require the same amount of labor as cows that do wean a calf. The cost of keeping a barren cow must be charged against the returns at weaning, reducing herd profitability. Profitable Herds Table 1 shows that a combination of percent calf crop plus weaning weight influences pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. Note the impact these factors have upon breakeven price at weaning and the value of calves weaned in each herd.
Cows failing to become pregnant are the main reason for a poor calf crop.
Calves lost during gestation, stillbirth, or dying between birth and weaning are other reasons. The cow-calf producer must minimize his losses in each of these areas if he is to maximize profits. The cow's gestation period averages 282 days but ranges from 278 to 292 days. After calving, the cow usually will not recycle for 45 to 60 days. Your goal as a cow-calf producer is to wean a heavy calf from every cow each year.