Why We’re Moving to a 45-Day Calving Cycle (And Why It Matters)

Calving season is one of the most exciting times on the farm. There’s nothing quite like watching new life emerge on the land you care for. But when calves are born across a long, drawn-out window, managing the herd becomes trickier and less efficient. That’s why we’ve made a shift at Belli Beef: we’re now working with a 45-day joining cycle.

In simple terms, this means our bulls will only be in with the herd for 45 days. Well, actually - 1 bull will be with the herd for 30 days, then we will pull him out and send in whats called 'the mop up bull'. This ensures every cow gets pregnant and the bulls don't have to work too hard. No more open-ended breeding seasons, no more surprise babies popping up months apart. We’re tightening the window so that all calves are born within a 45-day period. And while it might sound like just a scheduling tweak, it’s actually a significant move - for the herd, the land and the way we run our farm.

Why 45 Days?

The average gestation period for a cow is around 283 days - just over 9 months. By limiting the bulls’ time with the herd to a strict 45-day cycle, we’re creating a much more predictable calving window. This means we can:

• Tag, vaccinate and castrate all calves at once

• Monitor calf health and development more consistently

• Yard and handle animals with less stress (for them and for us!)

It also gives us a clearer picture of each cow’s fertility. If she hasn’t fallen pregnant in that 45-day window, she’s likely not breeding reliably - and as much as we love our girls, we need every cow to be pulling her weight. In that case, she’ll be moved on and replaced by a more productive animal.

Benefits for the Animals and the Land

A tighter calving season isn’t just about convenience - it’s about welfare and ecology.

Calves born close together are at similar stages of development, which reduces bullying and competition. It’s also easier to provide targeted nutrition, weaning schedules and organic parasite management when everyone is on the same page.

On a broader scale, aligning births to seasonal feed availability helps us manage grazing better. Calves born in sync with pasture growth cycles put less pressure on the landscape - a key piece of the regenerative puzzle. Also the mothers benefit from the spring pastures for optiomal nutrients, health and recovery.

Better for Farmers, Too

Farming is full of moving parts and time is one of the most valuable resources we have. When calves arrive in one compact wave, we’re not spending months chasing tails. We’re able to focus our energy, plan with purpose and keep our systems - from soil health to beef boxes - running smoothly.

Looking Ahead

This change reflects the way we think about farming at Belli Beef: intentional, adaptive, and always guided by nature. It’s not about rushing things - it’s about moving in rhythm with the land, the animals and the seasons.

We’re excited about this next chapter in our herd management and we’ll be sharing more about the journey in future newsletters. Got questions? We’d love to chat - drop us a message or give us a call.

Tiny little mite