Which Comes First, Calving or Rebreeding?

Management : Cow & Calf

Nutrition : Minerals

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Purina Animal Nutrition

You’ve heard the dilemma, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?”


Which comes first, calving or rebreeding? You might put all of your eggs in the calving “basket,” since a live, healthy calf is often first priority. But a calf is ultimately the result of a successful cattle breeding cycle, and preparation for calving and rebreeding should occur simultaneously.

Calving and rebreeding ideally occur within a relatively short, but very critical, 85-day window. How a heifer or cow calves out at the beginning of the window will impact her ability to get bred at the end of the window, and how quickly rebreeding occurs will impact a cow’s ability to stay on a 365-day calving cycle.

Follow these four tips to prepare for spring cattle calving and rebreeding:

1. Monitor cattle body condition scoreinfographic detailing how to prepare for calving and rebreeding
Cow body condition score (BCS) at calving not only affects colostrum quality, cow stamina (to get through birthing) and calf vigor, it also impacts the time until that cow starts cycling again.

You want cows cycling prior to the breeding season so that when they come into heat during breeding season you have a better chance of getting them bred in the first 21 days. Cows bred early in the breeding season will result in calves born early in calving season, resulting in heavier weights at weaning time.


Mature cows should calve in at a minimum body condition score of 5.5, but preferably at a score of 6. Heifers should calve at a minimum score of 6. Cattle supplementation can help maintain a consistent body condition score, which can lead to cows breeding back quickly, optimized conception rates and heavier calf weaning weights.

2. Evaluate your mineral program
Mineral nutrition is one of the most commonly overlooked items on the calving and rebreeding preparation list. Make sure you’re providing an adequate mineral program year-round versus right at calving or before breeding. Minerals are especially important 60 to 90 days before calving, since they impact colostrum quality, calf trace mineral status and calf health.



3. Discuss cattle health with your veterinarian
If you don’t have a comprehensive herd health program, now is the time to talk with your veterinarian or animal health supplier to develop one. If you have a program, it can be beneficial to re-evaluate and ensure the protocols still make sense.

Make sure you have a vaccination program in place for both cows and calves. Since every operation has a different risk level in how and when they calve, the program should be specific to your operation and region.

For operations with multiple employees, make sure everyone is familiar and comfortable with the cattle vaccination program ahead of time. Getting everyone on the same page before calving begins can help ensure protocols are followed correctly and consistently.

4. Take time to troubleshoot

It’s important to take an objective approach when a challenge arises. Troubleshoot and try to figure out what the true cause is versus making a knee-jerk decision. Involve your nutritionist, veterinarian, suppliers, employees and other key personnel to help work through a cause and solution. A team discussion can help identify the diagnostic work needed to find a solution.


Learn more about body condition scores and cow rebreeding, or take the Proof Pays challenge to start your feeding trial.