Spring calving feels like a spring problem, right up until you realize the biggest wins are decided months earlier. We’re joined by Dr. Robin Falkner, beef cattle technical consultant with Elanco Animal Health, to unpack a simple truth that can change your whole year: spring calving starts in the fall. If you run a cow-calf operation and want healthier cows, stronger calves, and fewer surprise costs, this conversation is built for you.

We dig into fall calving versus spring calving with real-world tradeoffs, not slogans. Spring calving can match nature by lining peak cow nutrient demand with the best forage quality, while fall calving can create marketing advantages when fewer calves hit that slot, but often requires higher management to meet cattle nutrition needs “against the season”. From there, we get concrete about what to focus on right now, including hay planning, body condition score, and why managing 120 to 180 days ahead can beat “handling what’s in front of you today.”

One of the most practical takeaways is weaning strategy. We challenge calendar-based weaning and talk about flexing decisions during drought and tight forage years. Dr. Faulkner shares how current market demand can surprise you, including why lighter calves (think 470 vs 570 lb.) may sometimes pencil out better. We also explore when it makes sense to consider a bigger system change like shifting calving date, and how innovators and early adopters stay viable across generations by building networks, pursuing continuing education, and spending more time finding better questions.

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