Gestation length: days from conception to birth
Gestation length is the time from conception to birth, measured in days. It varies by species and breed: cattle are usually pregnant for about nine months, while sheep and goats carry their young for about five months. Knowing the insemination or mating date helps you estimate when births are likely.
How do you estimate a calving date?
For example, a cow inseminated on 1 March, with an expected gestation of 280 days, would be due to calve around 6 December.
How can HerdMobile help?
HerdMobile helps you follow each animal's pregnancy and prepare for calving. Use the breeding date and expected gestation length to plan ahead for animals due soon.
Questions from the farm
Why does gestation length vary?
Gestation length varies with species, breed and litter size. Use the expected date to plan for birth, then note the actual date once the young are born.
Is the expected birth date exact?
The expected birth date is a guide. Animals often calve a few days before or after it, so allow a window around the date when planning.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
Use breeding dates to follow each animal's pregnancy in HerdMobile and plan ahead for calving, rather than relying on memory.
