The Different Stages of Cow Farming

The different stages of cow farming are basically the same, whether you are operating a dairy farm or a beef cattle ranch. The dairy farmer's goal is to produce as many gallons of milk as possible, and the rancher wants to sell as many pounds of beef that his operation can produce. To be successful, both producers have to pay close attention to animal health, nutrition, and reproduction. In addition, they have to be good business people.

  1. Breeding

    • The first step in cow farming is breeding females with a good bull, either naturally or through artificial insemination. Good producers hire a veterinarian to give their bulls breeding soundness exams every year. This helps ensure that each male will breed 15 to 25 cows within about a two- to three-month period. At the time of breeding, bulls and cows should be in a "5" body condition. That means you can't see their bones, but they do not have excess fat. An under-fed animal does not breed well.

    Birth

    • About 285 days after a cow is bred, she gives birth. Two to three days prior to her due date, she needs to be observed at least twice a day in case she has trouble in delivery. Sometimes the producer or an employee has to help deliver the calf. Once the calf is born, it needs to nurse immediately to obtain colostrum in the milk. Colostrum contains vitamins and other ingredients that cause the calf's internal systems to start functioning.

    Rebreeding

    • Cows will deliver milk for about seven to nine months before they go dry. A dairy farm will rebreed their cows after they quit giving milk or if their milk production has dropped to the point that it doesn't pay to continue milking them. A beef producer rebreeds his cattle 80 to 90 days after they give birth. Beef cattle raise a calf while being pregnant with another.

    Weaning

    • A dairy farmer will wean a calf from the dam as soon as the milk no longer contains colostrum, which is usually two to three days after birth. The calf is then raised on milk replacer so the entire milk supply from the cow can be sold. A beef producer leaves calves with the cows for six to 10 months, until the calves have learned to eat grass and no longer depend upon their mothers' milk.

    Market Preparation

    • As calves near weaning age, decisions are usually made as to whether they will join the breeding herd or be sold. Dairy heifers will either be raised as future milk cows or for meat production. Calves destined for meat production, whether dairy or beef breeds, will usually be put into a stocker operation soon after weaning. Here they are prepared for a feed yard by administering vaccinations and dewormers, teaching them to eat feed rations and getting them comfortable mixing with cattle from other herds. They remain stockers until they are about 12 to 16 months old, and then they are transferred to a feed yard where they stay for four to six months. They are harvested at approximately 18 to 20 months of age.