04/03/2024
~TEACHABLE TUESDAY~
Spring is in the air, and with that, bison calving season is about to begin. In fact, with the warm weather the Great Plains region experienced in March, there are reports of some early calves already on the ground!
A cow delivers her calf about nine and a half months after being bred. Depending on the region, the calving season is typically mid-April to late June.
Bison calves are cinnamon, or red, in color and weigh around 40 to 50 pounds at birth. The cow will typically leave the herd to give birth, which lasts about an hour. Within minutes, the calf will be standing on shaky legs, searching for the mother’s milk bag and that all-important drink of colostrum. Colostrum milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies, giving the calf a healthy jump start.
Shortly after, the calf is ready to move out with the cow. The calves can traverse all types of terrain and even swim in a river or a stream at an early age.