Warm temperatures can shorten the length of gestation for fall-calving cows and heifers. Oklahoma State University physiologists looked at two calving seasons’ worth of data on 60 Angus/Hereford crossbred cows calving in August and October. Gestation periods were nearly a full week shorter than normal for those calving in August the first year and four days shorter the second year.
Source: Progressive Farmer, September 30, 2019. Link. “. . . producers with fall-calving cows should expect to see calves coming several days ahead of those textbook gestation tables. He recommends doing routine heifer and cow checks ahead of that expected first calving date.
INSIGHTS: With abnormally warm weather in some parts of the country, those with late fall calving programs should be on the lookout. This is a good reminder to check cows and heifers early and often.