blackfoot-valley
and feed costs and allows us to provide summer yearling bulls.” Calving at a warmer time of year not only makes better use of the grass cycle, thereby reducing and potentially eliminating the need for supplemental feed, it works out better for the cattle in this northern climate. Heifers and cows give birth during the time of rapid fresh grass growth, just when their nutritional needs and those of their newborn calves are greatest. Since all of the females and calves are in pasture, the cowboys don’t have to check on them in darkness since the nights are no longer cold enough to be a problem for newborns. Ranch hands can ride out during daylight to weigh and tag the new calves and give them nutritional shots - vitamins A, C, and D, and the mineral sele- nium. A significant factor in reducing the need for haying and winter feed is the cell-grazing system noted earlier that not only conserves pasture and gives the grass time to recover after being grazed, but gives the animals a greater variety of nutrients from fresh grasses. Periodically rotating the cattle to different pastures, at intervals of a few days to a week, under careful man- agement, extends grass availablility by making better use of its growing cycle. “ Summer Calving” 186
Made with FlippingBook
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA2NTYz