Fall calves are bred in the winter
In our neck of the woods, we choose to calve in the fall. This is my favorite season in the Ozarks. The weather is not too hot, not yet cold, and the leaves are beautiful. Choosing fall means the calves are generally born in dry, clean pastures during warm weather. Plus the consistent fall weather improves calf survivability rates and overall health.
One of the most important aspects of managing a herd of cattle is getting them rebred on schedule after they calve. This means December and January, and maybe into February, is prime rebreeding time. This year, we only have one open cow – 603G. We decided to use artificial insemination (AI) to breed her to L7 HUMDINGER 0035H, a purebred limousin whose expected progeny differences (EPDs) tell us he is a good bull that sires high-quality calves. He can help us ensure 603G doesn’t pass down her high-birth-weight gene.
We had an AI technician visit the ranch on December 8, 2022. After he inserted the capsule of semen, he handed us the straw and said, “use this as a coffee stirrer in the morning, 100% guaranteed pregnant if you do.” Not sure if this is sound advice or if he was pulling our legs.
We didn’t use it in our coffee, but pending a pregnancy check, 603G will calve in mid-September. If the AI was not successful, she will have a calf in mid-October. But the October calf will be sired by the herd’s cleanup bull, Emprize (the same sire as this year’s calf, 603J – Keeper). Both bulls provide our herd with excellent genetics, and hopefully either option will produce our first heifer.
LAAN Limousin Cattle Ranch 
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