For most cattle, the best time to feed is whenever you can do it consistently, because cows do best on a steady routine. If you are calving a beef herd, feeding late in the day, from about late afternoon to evening, can shift more births into daylight hours, which makes it easier to watch for problems.
The Short Answer
- Beef cows not calving: once a day at a regular time is fine. Consistency matters more than the clock.
- Beef cows during calving season: feeding late in the day or at night can increase the share of calves born during daylight.
- Dairy cows: usually fed at least twice a day, with fresh feed after milking and again to match the herd’s routine. Follow your nutritionist’s plan.
- Feedlot cattle: often fed once or twice a day on a fixed schedule, with fresh feed in the bunk before it is empty.
Why Feeding Time Changes Calving Time
Extension specialists, including those at South Dakota State University, have reported that cows fed late in the day tend to calve more in the daytime than cows fed in the morning. Farm publications have covered the idea, sometimes called the “Konefal method” after a Manitoba cattleman who promoted it. The common version is to feed the whole day’s ration once, late in the evening, instead of in the morning. How well it works varies from herd to herd, and weather, stress and the cows’ condition affect results.
The benefit is practical. More calves born while you are awake and watching means fewer lost calves, fewer cold-weather problems and easier help with difficult births.
How to Try Late Feeding
- Start a few weeks before the calving season begins, so the cows adjust.
- Feed once a day in the evening, at a consistent time, with enough bunk space for every cow to eat.
- Keep clean water available at all times.
- Don’t change the schedule from day to day, and make sure cows have all the feed they need.
- Keep a calving log to see whether the shift works in your herd.
This approach suits herds fed in a dry lot or at a feeding area. It is less useful for cattle on pasture with no supplemental feed.
Other Feeding-Time Tips
- Be consistent. Cattle learn feeding times and get restless if you are late.
- Feed after dry or cold weather breaks, so bunk feed isn’t spoiled by rain or snow.
- Feed more roughage in cold weather. Digesting forage generates heat in the rumen.
- Don’t let bunks run empty for long, which can lead to gorging and digestive upset.
For feeding amounts and stage-by-stage needs, see our pregnant cow feeding chart and choosing the best feed to put weight on cows.
Bottom Line
There is no single best time to feed cattle, but consistency is key. If you calve beef cows, feeding in the late afternoon or evening may help more calves arrive in daylight. Check with your vet or local extension office about the right plan for your herd.
