More ranchers are taking a closer look at fall calving, drawn by a favorable price spread between spring- and fall-born calves. There’s also a potential health payoff: calving during cooler, drier months. According to Dr. Robin Falkner, technical service veterinarian for Elanco Animal Health, calves do best in temperatures between 55°F and 77°F (not accounting for humidity or moisture), and fall calving can help reduce cold-weather stress. But Falkner notes fall calving isn’t a fit for every region. The window is narrow and success comes down to solid management: watching body condition through the season rather than just at breeding, testing forage quality and quantity ahead of calving, and timing vaccinations to support both herd health and calf marketability.

For producers weighing the change, Dr. Falkner recommends planning a full season ahead, covering everything from feed supply to fly control and adjusting the plan to fit each operation’s ground and goals rather than following a set formula.

Read the full commentary in Drovers and check out more tips from Dr. Falkner in the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.