Fall Calving Season on the Ranch: Why F1 Cross Calves Are the Best of Both Worlds
The best of both worlds: Angus x Hereford crosses showing off their signature look.
There’s something special about Fall on a cattle farm. The air in Central Alabama finally loses its humid, sweltering blanket-like consistency and begins to get a little crisp, which is a blessing and a welcomed change. This year, our pastures are dotted with brand-new calves. Back in the summer, we brought home a group of 32 bred replacement cows. Each Angus cow had been preg-checked and guaranteed to calve late August through September. And let me tell you—it has been the most exciting time watching new life arrive almost daily.
We have babies everywhere! Some get tucked away in the tall grass so deep that you barely can see them, some hide under the shade of the woods, and others stay right near mama and never leave her side. Riding around on the side-by-side to check cattle has turned into a daily treasure hunt, with fresh faces popping up in the herd every week.
Getting to Know Our New Herd
When we first bought these cattle, it took well over a month for them to get used to us and not be jumpy and spooky. They were standoffish at first, which is expected when introducing a new group of cows to a different environment. But now these cows have become so docile that we can walk among them and their calves like they’ve always been here—now THAT is what makes cattle farming fun!
The Power of F1 Cross Calves
One look at this little one and you see the best of both breeds.
These new cows are Angus, and they were bred to a Hereford bull. That combination produces what’s known in the cattle world as an F1 cross. An F1 cross is the first generation offspring of mating a purebred Angus bull or cow with a purebred of a different breed. You’ll spot them easily by their classic white-faced look that comes from the Hereford side. But the advantages go beyond appearance:
Hybrid Vigor (Heterosis): F1 calves typically grow faster and more efficiently than purebred calves. The best traits of both breeds get passed to the first generation offspring, which leads to improvements in reproduction, health, and longevity.
Higher Weaning Weights: Crossbred calves are known for heavier weaning weights, which is a big benefit for ranchers selling calves by the pound.
Maternal Advantages: The Angus side is known for strong maternal traits and good milk production, and we’ve already seen that play out.
Even calves born just three weeks ago are already showing incredible growth, thanks to the milk quality from their Angus dams and the added hybrid vigor from their Hereford sire.
The big white-faced calf up front is already a step ahead of the younger ones in back—he’s only two weeks older and has seen a large gain in size.
Watching Calves Thrive in Fall
Fall calving has its own set of perks. The weather is milder than summer, meaning less heat stress for cows and calves alike. Parasite loads are lower, and there’s typically a good amount of grass available for grazing. Our pastures have been full of playful calves darting around, with their mothers close behind keeping a watchful eye.
And there’s nothing like spotting a white-faced calf bedded down in the woods, peeking out between the trees—it feels like nature’s perfect camouflage until you catch the glint of that bright face against the shadows.
Camouflage level: expert. Can you find the little one?
Ranch Life Joys: Babies Everywhere
One of the best parts of cattle ranching is the rhythm of life it brings. Spring pastures greening up after a long winter, summer hay season’s hustle and bustle, and now the joy of fall calving just to name a few. Every morning and evening, we ride through the herd to check cows and calves, making sure each one is nursing well and growing strong.
It’s not just about the numbers or the business side—though healthy F1 calves are certainly an investment in the future. It’s about the simple joy of seeing life multiply across the fields. The sight of calves bucking and kicking in the morning air, or a mother licking her newborn dry in the golden light is a reward in itself. I’m beginning to love Fall calvers!
Fall calving at its finest!
Why We’re Excited About the Future
The perfect picture: strong momma, healthy calves, and plenty of grass underfoot.
This group of Angus-Hereford cross calves represents a bright future for our herd. They’re hardy, fast-growing, and are already proving the benefits of hybrid vigor. As they grow, they’ll stand as living proof of why ranchers across the country prize F1 crosses for both performance and profitability.
For us, though, it’s more than science or economics. It’s the beauty of raising cattle in a way that honors their design, their Supreme Designer, and the privilege of watching life begin anew out here in the pastures.
From all of us at Crooked Creek, thanks for stopping by!