Post by keeperatthehomestead on Mar 3, 2019 0:44:08 GMT -5
Howdy from West Texas! You've come to the right place to bounce ideas off others who have a wealth of knowledge to share.
I totally agree with the "why can't I have one of everything I want?" theory! I remember even as a youngster I wished I could have some longhorn cattle, some mini cattle, a couple of mini ponies, etc. (My youngest daughter always wanted a zebra, but that hasn't happened for her yet, either!)
Yes, the rebreeding at about three months after calving is pretty typical of all cattle breeds. That way, your calves from a beef herd all come more or less at the same time, so you have a uniform bunch to sell when it's time, and all the cows are ready to rebreed about the same time when you turn the bull/s back out. With milking breeds, if they go too long between calves, there is a possibility they will get too fat, which causes difficulties when you're ready to get them bred again. Of course, from the economic standpoint, if you have a calf every year, rather than every two or three or five years, you have more opportunity to sell the calves or butcher them for yourself or to split with someone else who wants beef!
Yes, also, to your question about separating the cow and calf, either during the day or during the night. Some folks leave the calf with the cow 24/7. Some separate them for several hours. Some separate them for just a few hours before they plan to milk. Some wean the calf as soon as it's born and bottle it, so the cow (thoretically, sometimes!) doesn't hold up her milk for the calf. The more you read on here, the more you'll see that there are many different successful ways to handle your cow and her calf!
Following what I have learned off of here and from other friends, we try to breed Katy Kow about three months from the time she calved. I stop milking her, then, about two months before she calves, to give her time to make plenty of colostrum for the coming calf, and to put on a few pounds that will melt back off when she starts feeding a calf and providing milk for us and any dogies (calves, lambs, or kids) we want to raise on her.
Keep the questions coming! As they say, the only dumb question is the one that never gets asked.
Bahaha, but, mom, why not a zebra?!
Thank you so much for the welcome and information!!