The feeding decisions you make this winter could determine next season’s calf crop. We got you expert advice on why winter feeding is an investment in the future performance of a cow and her calf.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
As winter tightens its grip across South Africa, many beef producers are focused on getting their cows through the cold months. However, for pregnant cows, winter is about much more than survival. It is during this period that next season’s calf crop is already being shaped.
We spoke to Ernest Makua, livestock technical adviser at Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS). He says that many spring-calving herds spend winter in the dry gestation phase. “Although these cows are no longer producing milk, they are carrying calves that are developing rapidly inside the womb. What many farmers don’t realise is that the final trimester of pregnancy is when most of the foetal growth takes place. During this stage, the unborn calf’s nutritional demands increase significantly,” he says.
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Winter feeding is an investment in next season’s calves
A pregnant cow entering winter with poor nutrition faces a difficult challenge: She must maintain her own body condition while supporting the growth of her developing calf.
Makua says that when nutritional deficiencies occur during late pregnancy, the consequences often become visible months later. “Farmers may experience lower calf birth weights, weaker newborn calves, reduced colostrum production, poorer milk production after calving and delayed rebreeding. Conception rates in the following breeding season may also suffer.”
Makua says the effects are not always immediate, but they can have a lasting impact on herd productivity. “For this reason, winter feeding should never be viewed as a seasonal expense. It is an investment in the future performance of both the cow and her calf. As producers, we often focus on the calves we can see. During winter, however, we should also be thinking about the calves we cannot yet see. The decisions made around winter nutrition today will influence the quality and productivity of next season’s calf crop.”
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