Both a fall calving herd and a spring calving herd have the same basic nutrient requirement. There is a considerable difference in the nutrient requirements of a beef cow the last three months of gestation compared to the first three months of lactation. Basically the protein and energy requirement for each individual beef cow doubles after calving. Dry matter intake will also increase. Fall calving eliminates the competition for feed between cows, due to the fact that calving is completed on pasture.
Proper nutrition is most critical from calving throughout the breeding season.
Maintaining a condensed calving season and a nine-month calving interval in turn enhances the marketing potential. If it is necessary to purchase forage, high quality hay is generally cheaper in the fall compared to spring. As spring approaches calves are usually diverted to creep or bunk feeding of some type and this will permit lower quality forage to be utilized by the cow herd. Lower quality forage can be utilized very effectively for grazing throughout the season when the cows are dry. The maintenance requirement for dry pregnant cows throughout the summer is quite low compared to cows nursing calves.