A University of Missouri Extension cow/calf specialist says shortening the calving season as much as possible creates more efficient and profitable cattle production.

Jordan Thomas said longer calving seasons mean low weaning weights for calves born at the end of the season and makes it harder for late bred cows to be bred on time next season.  But he tells Brownfield producers shouldn’t shorten their calving seasons too drastically in a single year…

“Because what they would do to get there is either cull a tremendous proportion of the cow herd or they would use a very, very short breeding season and then end up with a lot of non-pregnant cows,” he said.

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