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Abstract
Feeder cattle prices are generally
lower in the fall, when the volume of
calves for sale is highest. Most
ranches in the Rocky Mountains
calve in March or April, which
results in the sale of weaned calves in
October, when feeder cattle prices
tend to be lowest. This study was
initiated with the idea that a rancher
might improve profitability by
switching to fall calving, which
would enable them to sell calves in
April at a higher price. In this study,
fall calving generated both higher
and less variable profit, but mainly
because of cost savings.