Blocked, seasonal calving allows the animals' nutritional needs to be best adapted to the quality of the feed – especially the pastures . Furthermore, all animals are at the same stage of lactation, which simplifies feeding and minimizes the risk of over- or under-supply.
Block calving allows for larger and more uniform batches to be delivered to cattle fatteners who buy and fatten weaned calves from suckler cow herds. However, if young cattle are marketed directly from the farm, customers expect a continuous purchasing opportunity, which argues against block calving.
In this new ÖAG-Info 2/2024, Johann Häusler, Patrick Gregoritsch, Franz Augustin, Lukas Huber, August Bittermann, Christian Ruetz, Julia Forster and Margit Velik address the following topics related to suckler cow husbandry:
- Seasonal calving and calving periods (winter calving, spring or early summer calving, autumn calving and continuous calving)
- Advantages and disadvantages of seasonal calving
- Calving period - feeding and profitability
- The bull in suckler cow husbandry
- The ideal cow for seasonal calving
- Animal health and fertility
- Marketing and
- two company reports
As a member, you can receive this 16-page ÖAG information sheet free of charge directly from the Website of the Austrian Working Group for Grassland and Livestock Farming download, a Apply for membership, the ÖAG info in Order from the shop on the webpage or themselves
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3-page excerpt from the ÖAG information sheet "Seasonal calving in suckler cow husbandry"
