Feeding calving cows at night- daytime calving

[nacnud]

A guy I used to work for found research that if you feed your cows after 6pm, there is a greater chance that they will calve during the day, therefor reducing the need for checking at night. I think the theory is that they will tend to begin calving about 10-12 hours after feeding and he tried it and I think 9 out of the first 10 calved during the day.

Does anyone else do this?

 

[Alistair McLaren]

We're not but there are a few that do and reckon it works. Samcowman on here is one that does.

 

[Samcowman]

Yeah in the middle of first year doing it. Not quite halfway through and cows calving in the daytime which I count as between 7 in the morning to 9 at night when I feed them is about twice the number compared to night time will update with the exact numbers later on when I get my diary. The important thing for me is I have only had to stay up past midnight once to check a cow that was calving

 

[Thick Farmer]

I can't comment on night time feeding, but I know that by feeding mine at about 8 o clock in the morning I can guarantee calving between midnight and 6 o clock in the morning!

Out of the 40 ish that have calved so far, i think only one has calved in the day time...

 

[fatman]

does it work for whooly maggouts

 

[RJ1]

Speaking to someone who' s a convert to night feeding when it comes to sheep last week. He said that he tried it with half the flock of 500 first year and the difference was noticable so coverted fully. He feeded at 8ish, went to bed at midnight and got up at 6.

 

[nacnud]

Does anyone know how it actually works?

 

[Sid]

Guy local here does same and swears by it, feeds at 6pm and doesn't look at cows till 6am. Surely if you took the ram/bull out at night it would have the same effect?

 

[Nearly]

The theory is that if a cow/ewe has a belly full of feed it's less likely to start to give birth until the stomach has gone down a bit.

 

[49801]

yes it works to an extent.
if i was putting up a shed in the morning i'd lay it out so that i could exclude uncalved cows from the feed barrier during daytime hours.

 

[Married 2 The Mob]

A guy I used to work for found research that if you feed your cows after 6pm, there is a greater chance that they will calve during the day, therefor reducing the need for checking at night. I think the theory is that they will tend to begin calving about 10-12 hours after feeding and he tried it and I think 9 out of the first 10 calved during the day.

Does anyone else do this?

I think there is something in it, not 100%, but a good 70% plus.
Read about it quite a few years ago, can't remember where, and now always try to feed the pre calving group at 4.30 - 5ish - Last job before milking.
A lot of cows then go on to calve early morning, on the go when you get up or soon after.
The working day is plenty long enough without regularly getting up in the middle of the night !
M2M

 

[llamedos]

For sheep I think it does, once into the routine, when you first start, you will find the ones who dont come forward, will have lambed before morning. A week into the routine you will perhaps get the odd one. But 90% + will lamb in daylight hours.

 

[Samcowman]

Quick update on this 42 so far calved during the day compared to 19 at night. Only 2 I have had to stay up past midnight to check. Reckon I will be doing the same next year

 

[M-J-G]

Guy local here does same and swears by it, feeds at 6pm and doesn't look at cows till 6am. Surely if you took the ram/bull out at night it would have the same effect?

Not at all! We synchronised 20 heifers last year and they calved for over a week, most were to the same bull. It's time of implantation that makes the difference, not time of mating. Implantation time can vary by over a week in cattle and days in sheep, that's why we get such variations in gestations.

Night Feeding is good, not quite 100%, but nothing in nature is. A very useful manipulation though!

 

[nacnud]

Quick update on this 42 so far calved during the day compared to 19 at night. Only 2 I have had to stay up past midnight to check. Reckon I will be doing the same next year

sounds a worthwhile exercise then!

 

[Samcowman]

Yeah definitely worth it. I had 8 out of the 10 born one week at night and I'm not sure why. It was strange why there were so many that week at night. Only thing I can think is maybe I fed a bit much that week and had too much left in the morning for them to eat each day. Had another one calve during the day today

 

[nacnud]

tried this with our autumn calvers, feeding about 7pm. out of 15 so far haven't had any before 7am or later than 9pm, seems to be working so far, most tend to be in the afternoon.

 

[Matt]

Works on the whole here too.

 

[Chae1]

What if they're on a tmr?

 

[More to life]

Done it for years works with cows also with sheep we used to refer to it as putting them to bed I don't think the effects last as long for sheep but it used to give us a few hours off . I've calves maybe 200 cows and heifers this year and not stayed up passed 12 once and only one or two passed 10 they are checked before 4 in the morning .