Western Canadian Cow Calf Survey Results

Jun 30, 2015

Results from the Western Canadian Cow Calf Survey are being released.

Kathy Larson, the Beef Economist at the Western Beef Development Centre, says that the results showed the Average Cow to Bull Ratio was 25 to 1, the Average breeding season length was 93 days while the most common month to start calving was March.

"We asked them really specific targeted questions on the way that various head counts pertaining to their 2013 breeding season all the way through to the weening of their 2014 calf crop, so dates for various events on their operation and numbers of calves weened, and then also various production practices that they would have in terms of grazing and animal health."

The survey was a collaborative effort involving the Provincial Producer Associations, the Provincial Ministry’s of Agriculture Specialists, the Beef Cattle Research Council, Canfax and the Western Beef Development Centre.

The last time the production survey was conducted was in 1998 and practices have changed over time.

"When it came to cow to bull ratio it was 25 to 1 and conception was at 93 per cent, so a seven per cent opens on cows, ten per cent on heifers. Breeding season length was a little over 90 days and we would typically recommend 63 days or less. Then on calving distribution, 55 per cent of survey respondents female's calving in the first 21 days, and ideally we'd like to target 60 per cent."

Source : PortageOnline

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