Calving in late winter instead of early spring could maximize calf growth.
A USDA study on rangeland in the western U.S. shows that late winter calving supplies livestock with high-quality forage when they need it most. This is thanks to late warming in the winter.
Calves from the study averaged about 13 percent heavier at five months than spring calves. Researchers say that using rangeland can lower the cost of beef production and selecting the right calving time is key.
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