Quick answer
A cow gestation chart covers about 283 days: three trimesters of roughly 94 days, or a little over 9 months. Pregnancy checks fall in month 1–2, calf sexing in month 2–3, the big growth spurt from month 7, and calving in month 10 (days 273–293).
The cow gestation chart
Save it, print it or pin it. The chart shows the key dates of a 283-day cattle pregnancy, trimester by trimester. (Looking for fetal development and scan milestones instead? That’s on the bovine gestation chart.)
For your own cow, enter her breeding date in the chart maker above. Her chart opens with every step on a real calendar date, and you can add them all to your phone with one tap.
Cow gestation chart by month
What happens to the calf, and what you should be doing, in each month of a cow’s pregnancy:
| Month | The calf | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1days 0–30 | Fertilization; the embryo floats, then attaches around day 19–21. Heartbeat visible on ultrasound from about day 25–30. | Watch for return to heat on days 18–24. Avoid stress, transport and sudden feed changes. |
| Month 2days 30–60 | Organs form; the calf is about the size of a mouse. | Pregnancy check: blood test from day 28, ultrasound from 28–35, palpation from 35–45. |
| Month 3days 60–90 | About the size of a rat; sex can be seen by ultrasound (days 55–90). | Fetal sexing if you want it. First trimester ends around day 94. |
| Month 4days 90–120 | About the size of a small cat; hooves and horn buds form. | Second trimester: the easiest time to feed her. Fix body condition on thin cows. |
| Month 5days 120–150 | About the size of a large cat; hair starts on the muzzle and eyelids. | Keep her on a steady diet; deworm or vaccinate as your vet advises. |
| Month 6days 150–180 | About the size of a small dog; a hair coat develops. | Plan winter feed; she will need more in the last trimester. |
| Month 7days 180–210 | Rapid growth starts; most of the birth weight is added from here. | Third trimester (from day 189): increase energy and protein. |
| Month 8days 210–240 | The calf grows fast and moves into position. | Dairy cows are dried off about 60 days before calving (around day 223). |
| Month 9days 240–270 | Lungs and fat stores mature; the calf turns head-first toward the birth canal. | Pre-calving scours vaccines 3–6 weeks before; move her to the calving area 3 weeks before. |
| Month 10days 270–293 | Ready to be born: usually 60–100 lb (beef) or 80–100 lb (Holstein). | Calving window days 273–293; check her at least twice a day. |
Calf sizes are the rough comparisons vets use when they palpate. Weights at birth vary with breed, sex and the sire.
Cattle gestation chart by trimester
| Trimester | Days | Calf growth | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0–94 | Embryo implants, organs form; tiny in size | Confirm pregnancy, avoid stress, keep feed steady |
| 2nd | 94–189 | Steady growth; hair and hooves develop | Cheapest time to feed; rebuild body condition |
| 3rd | 189–283 | Most of the calf’s birth weight is added | More energy and protein, minerals, vaccines, calving prep |
Gestation chart for beef vs. dairy cattle
The pregnancy itself is the same; the management around it differs.
| When | Beef cow | Dairy cow |
|---|---|---|
| Average gestation | About 280–289 days, by breed | About 279 days (Holstein, Jersey); Brown Swiss about 290 |
| Months 1–2 | Preg check by blood test, ultrasound or palpation | Same; milk pregnancy tests are an easy option |
| About 60 days before calving | Plan winter feed for the last trimester | Dry off: stop milking |
| 3–6 weeks before | Pre-calving scours vaccines | Pre-calving vaccines; close-up ration |
| Last 21 days | Move to the calving pasture | Close-up pen with transition feeding |
| After calving | Breed back by about day 82; wean at 6–8 months | Voluntary waiting period 45–60 days, then breed |
In the chart maker, choose Dairy under More options to add the dry-off date to your cow’s chart.
Gestation chart by breed
| Breed group | Average gestation | Calving in month… |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy (Holstein, Jersey) | 279 days | early month 10 |
| British beef (Angus, Hereford) | 280–285 days | month 10 |
| Continental (Simmental, Charolais, Limousin) | 287–289 days | month 10, a few days later |
| Bos indicus (Brahman) | 292 days | late month 10 |
Full breed list: cattle gestation by breed. For a date-by-date lookup instead of a month chart, use the cattle gestation table.
How to use a cow gestation chart
The printed chart is handy on the barn wall or the fridge. Mark each cow’s name in the month she’s in and move it along. For a single cow, the chart maker at the top of this page is more useful, because it puts her actual dates on every step: when to preg-check, when to vaccinate, when to move her to the calving pasture. Keeping track of a whole group? Save each cow to the herd list and send all the dates to your phone’s calendar in one go.
Running a 4-H or FFA project? Print the chart for each member and have them mark their heifer’s dates on it.
Cow gestation chart FAQ
What does a cow gestation chart show?
A cow gestation chart shows the stages of a cow’s pregnancy over about 283 days: when to check for heat and pregnancy, how the calf grows each month, when to vaccinate, dry off and move her, and when she should calve.
How many months is a cattle gestation chart?
A little over 9 months: 283 days is 9 months and about 10 days, so calving falls early in the tenth month.
Is there a printable cow gestation chart?
Yes. Tap the chart picture on this page to open the full-size image, then save, print or pin it. The chart maker also prints your own cow’s dates.
What is the difference between a gestation chart and a gestation table?
A gestation chart shows the stages of pregnancy over time. A gestation table lists a calving date for every breeding date. Both use the same 283-day average.
When does a calf grow the most?
In the last trimester, from about day 189. That is why a pregnant cow’s feed needs rise sharply in the last three months.
Last updated October 21, 2026 · Every date on this page comes from the same data the calculators use.