What is Calving Season?

“Checking cattle during calving season in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley”

“Checking cattle during calving season in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley”

It's calving season again - each year at this time I can't help but pause in awe to sincerely appreciate the season of new life! Calving season is the time of year when cows give birth to calves, typically in late winter through spring. For ranchers, it’s one of the most important and demanding seasons, requiring constant care, monitoring, and preparation.

The Bitterroot is waking up, returning to life after a long, albeit unusually easy, winter. The trees are starting to bud—I see tiny blades of green grass beginning to surface, while spring bulbs are starting to add color to our landscape—and I hear the sound of red-winged blackbirds in the distance, each a soft reminder of just how precious life is. And then, there are the newborn calves!

There is something so ineffably sweet about the first calf of the year hitting the ground — especially when everything goes smoothly for both mom and baby. (And since I'm a spring baby, it's even more to celebrate when I have a calf arrive on my birthdate!)

We welcomed our first calf of the season (pictured) out of Annabelle’s oldest cow. She’s a healthy black baldie baby. We get our baldie calves by crossing Black Angus with Polled Herefords. It’s by far my favorite cross — and in my opinion, they're the cutest calves in the pasture.

While calving is one of my favorite seasons, full of joy from assisting in the birth of new babies, it can be so stressful. It can mean long nights, sometimes fighting hard to do everything you can to keep a weak baby alive (sometimes they make it - sometimes they don’t). This is such a critical few months to a cattle rancher’s livelihood. So remember, be patient with your ranching friends this time of year. They just might be a bit sleep-deprived, and if things didn't go as planned for one of their cows, they might be feeling defeated or heavy-hearted.

As you drive the Bitterroot corridors this spring and see all the spring calves playing in the fields, pause a moment to appreciate what it takes to make that possible. There’s a lot of unseen work behind every healthy herd — and ultimately, behind the beef on our plates!

A couple cautions for calving season in Montana:

1. If you're lucky enough to happen upon a cow in process of calving, keep your distance. Momma cows like their privacy and it can cause pretty serious complications if you get too close and stress the cow.

2. If you see a calf lying by itself, don’t worry at all. Even a momma cow needs to take a break for a few minutes to grab some “me” time while her newborn naps. I promise the rancher knows about it.

Calving season is just one part of life in the Bitterroot Valley—challenging, rewarding, and deeply connected to the land. If you’re curious about living this lifestyle, you can explore more here.