Spring 2005
Managing for Success During the Upcoming Breeding Season
SPRING 2005
The calving season is in full swing and soon it will be time to start the artificial insemination program or turn the bulls in for the breeding season. This is a very important time of year and producers need to pay special attention to how they manage their replacement heifers and cow herd so that they cycle back and breed on time.
The goal of every cattle producer is to properly develop heifers so that they have their first calf at two years of age. These heifers then need to be managed to cycle back and rebreed so that they calve in 365 days or on or near their third birthday. This is repeated each and every year that the cow is in the herd. A tall order but one that has to be accomplished by each cow in order to maintain productivity and profitability.
There are several factors that contribute to the success or failure of getting the cows to cycle back and breed on time so that the goal of having each cow calve every 365 days can be reached.
These factors are herd health, nutrition, body condition, genetics, age of dam, and calving difficulty. Let’s look in depth at each of these factors.
Herd Health
A good herd health program is required in order to achieve success in a reproductive management system. There are a number of reproductive diseases that can cause all kinds of problems. Each producer needs to vaccinate their cattle for reproductive diseases on a regular basis. Designing a herd health program should be done in consultation with a veterinarian that is familiar with the problems in the local area.
Each year Cattle Fax, a beef cattle marketing service, conducts a survey of their subscribers. In the survey they ask questions regarding cost of production. From the results they are able to determine low, medium and high cost producers. A common denominator of the low cost producers is a well-designed strict herd health program. Low cost producers do not cut corners or try to save money in the area of herd health. They realize that a healthy animal will make money. Sick or diseased animals are a drain on the economic viability of the herd.
Following a good herd health program will keep the cows healthy and help them to cycle back and rebreed on time.
Genetics
Genetics can influence reproductive efficiency a great deal. We have all seen cows that are hard keeping and tend to calve later each year. They just don’t have the genetics to be efficient in the environment that they are living. If all the cows in the herd are having the same problem, then it is not due to genetics it is due to some other factor.
If the majority of the cows are cycling back and breeding on time, but there are a few cows that fall further behind, cull the late calvers. They are genetically inferior and need to be removed from the herd.
Also, be sure not to keep any replacement heifers from these cows. Chances are they will have the same problems as their mothers.
Age of Dam
Heifers generally have a 20 to 30 day longer interval between calving and return to estrus. It just takes a heifer longer to recover from the calving experience than it does a cow. Managing heifers separate from the cows is essential in maintaining reproductive efficiency. Heifers should be bred to calve three to four weeks ahead of the main cowherd. This will allow them the extra time to cycle back and be bred on time with the other cows.
Nutrition
Feeding a balanced diet that meets the nutritional requirements of the heifers and cows is the most important management practice that producers can follow in order to insure that the herd maintains a tight calving season and returns to estrus on time. This is the most critical area.
Cows that are fed right will perform to their genetic potential. Cows that are starved will eventually starve the budget. Like the old saying goes, “You can’t starve a profit out of a cow”.
The most important time during the production cycle to pay close attention to nutrition is sixty days before calving until 90 days postpartum or when the cows are bred. The relationship between protein and energy requirements and prompt rebreeding has been well documented through a number of research studies.
Protein requirements for a 1200-pound cow in the second tri-mester is 7%. This increases to 9.6% during the last 60 days of pregnancy and for three months after calving. A huge increase.
Forages need to be tested for protein and energy levels. Once this is known, a ration can be balanced to meet the needs of the cows. Protein can be added to the diet through a variety of sources such as alfalfa, soybean meal, canola meal, pea screenings, protein blocks and tubs and others. If energy is lacking, some type of grain can also be added. The whole key is knowing the quality of the forages being fed. A good trace mineral supplement should also be fed free choice to the cowherd. Many of our forages lack the trace minerals needed to insure return to estrus.
Body Condition
Body condition is directly correlated to how well or poorly the cows are being fed, which in turn can have a drastic affect on return to estrus, services per conception, calving interval, milk production, weaning weight and calf health.
Research has shown that the target body condition score for cows at calving time is a BCS score of 5. This of course is using the numerical system from 1 to 9 in which a score of 1 is extremely thin and a score of 9 is obese. First calf heifers should have a BCS score of 6 at calving. It is important to maintain these body condition scores through proper nutrition after the cows or heifers have calved. If the females are losing body condition after calving, reproductive efficiency and income is reduced.
It is recommended that the cows and heifers be body condition scored at weaning time in the fall. Those cows that are thin and need additional condition can then be fed accordingly to improve condition scores prior to the calving season. It is very hard to increase body condition once the cow or heifer has calved.
Calving Difficulty
A research project conducted in Montana showed that cows that had difficulty in the delivery of their calf took longer to cycle back than cows that experienced no calving problems. It is extremely important to try and minimize calving difficulty in your herd. Of course it is impossible to eliminate all calving problems, but the key is to determine when a problem is occurring and provide assistance early. This same research project showed that early assistance reduced the time it took to return to estrus compared to cows that experience a long drawn out calving problem.
Early assistance pays off in relation to return to estrus, calving interval, and healthier calves.
Summary
The goal of having each cow calve every 365 days is a tough goal to reach but can be done through proper management. Paying close attention to the factors outlined in this newsletter will help. Feel free to contact your veterinarian, nutritionists or myself if you have questions or concerns on this topic.
On The Lighter Side
“Jim, come on in, the doctor will see you now,” the nurse said as she opened the doorway that led into the examination area of the doctor’s clinic. “Take a seat up on the table and make yourself comfortable. The doctor will be in momentarily.”
“How will I explain my condition to the doctor? Will he be able to help me? How much is this going to cost me? Is the nurse going to give me a shot?” I muttered to myself as I sat there in the cold examination room. Just then the door opened and in walked Dr. Boneman.
“Well Jim, long time no see. What brings you in here today?” the doctor said as he surveyed my chart. “Doc, this is really painful for me. I have put this off for many years and finally with some coaxing from my wife, I have decided to get some help.” I said with a helpless look in my eye. Dr. Boneman got a very concerned look on his face and then got real serious. “Jim, I’m here to help but you’ve got to tell me all about your problem. What are the symptoms?”
Squirming like a greased pig running from a hoard of kids, I finally started to explain my situation. “It all started over thirty years ago. I was young and impressionable and watched all the male role models in my life partake in this activity each and every day. Soon I found myself longing for it, first in small doses and then I couldn’t get enough. It was as if it were a genetic thing passed down from one generation to the next. I would spend all my spare time with it and any spare cash went towards funding this activity. I even borrowed money to support it and once used the spare cash we were saving to buy Christmas presents to satisfy my need.”
“Wow, that sounds serious,” Dr. Boneman said. “Heck I’m only getting started,” I said as the years of frustration came flowing out of my mouth. “My condition got worse. I started trying to get my own kids involved. I used up my vacation time wallowing in my habit and found myself wanting to only associate with people that shared my affliction. What can I do? Is there a cure for a guy like me?” I pleaded with the doctor as tears welled up in my eyes.
“Jim this problem is serious. I don’t think we should have you use any drugs because that may compound the problem. Have you ever thought about attending AA or some other support group?” Dr. Boneman asked with a worried tone in his voice. “What? AA?” I asked. “Why in the world would I want to attend an AA meeting?” “Jim, Alcohol Anonymous is a great program that really helps people with addictions to alcohol such as yours. I think you should start attending the local meetings.”
“Doc you misdiagnosed this one by a mile. I’m not addicted to alcohol; heck I barely drink one beer a month. My addiction is to the cattle business. I can’t get it out of my system. It’s in my blood. I am not the only one with it either. Everyone that has cattle comes down with the condition. It is highly contagious. Can you help my friends and me? Please before it’s too late!”
SPRING 2005
The calving season is in full swing and soon it will be time to start the artificial insemination program or turn the bulls in for the breeding season. This is a very important time of year and producers need to pay special attention to how they manage their replacement heifers and cow herd so that they cycle back and breed on time.
The goal of every cattle producer is to properly develop heifers so that they have their first calf at two years of age. These heifers then need to be managed to cycle back and rebreed so that they calve in 365 days or on or near their third birthday. This is repeated each and every year that the cow is in the herd. A tall order but one that has to be accomplished by each cow in order to maintain productivity and profitability.
There are several factors that contribute to the success or failure of getting the cows to cycle back and breed on time so that the goal of having each cow calve every 365 days can be reached.
These factors are herd health, nutrition, body condition, genetics, age of dam, and calving difficulty. Let’s look in depth at each of these factors.
Herd Health
A good herd health program is required in order to achieve success in a reproductive management system. There are a number of reproductive diseases that can cause all kinds of problems. Each producer needs to vaccinate their cattle for reproductive diseases on a regular basis. Designing a herd health program should be done in consultation with a veterinarian that is familiar with the problems in the local area.
Each year Cattle Fax, a beef cattle marketing service, conducts a survey of their subscribers. In the survey they ask questions regarding cost of production. From the results they are able to determine low, medium and high cost producers. A common denominator of the low cost producers is a well-designed strict herd health program. Low cost producers do not cut corners or try to save money in the area of herd health. They realize that a healthy animal will make money. Sick or diseased animals are a drain on the economic viability of the herd.
Following a good herd health program will keep the cows healthy and help them to cycle back and rebreed on time.
Genetics
Genetics can influence reproductive efficiency a great deal. We have all seen cows that are hard keeping and tend to calve later each year. They just don’t have the genetics to be efficient in the environment that they are living. If all the cows in the herd are having the same problem, then it is not due to genetics it is due to some other factor.
If the majority of the cows are cycling back and breeding on time, but there are a few cows that fall further behind, cull the late calvers. They are genetically inferior and need to be removed from the herd.
Also, be sure not to keep any replacement heifers from these cows. Chances are they will have the same problems as their mothers.
Age of Dam
Heifers generally have a 20 to 30 day longer interval between calving and return to estrus. It just takes a heifer longer to recover from the calving experience than it does a cow. Managing heifers separate from the cows is essential in maintaining reproductive efficiency. Heifers should be bred to calve three to four weeks ahead of the main cowherd. This will allow them the extra time to cycle back and be bred on time with the other cows.
Nutrition
Feeding a balanced diet that meets the nutritional requirements of the heifers and cows is the most important management practice that producers can follow in order to insure that the herd maintains a tight calving season and returns to estrus on time. This is the most critical area.
Cows that are fed right will perform to their genetic potential. Cows that are starved will eventually starve the budget. Like the old saying goes, “You can’t starve a profit out of a cow”.
The most important time during the production cycle to pay close attention to nutrition is sixty days before calving until 90 days postpartum or when the cows are bred. The relationship between protein and energy requirements and prompt rebreeding has been well documented through a number of research studies.
Protein requirements for a 1200-pound cow in the second tri-mester is 7%. This increases to 9.6% during the last 60 days of pregnancy and for three months after calving. A huge increase.
Forages need to be tested for protein and energy levels. Once this is known, a ration can be balanced to meet the needs of the cows. Protein can be added to the diet through a variety of sources such as alfalfa, soybean meal, canola meal, pea screenings, protein blocks and tubs and others. If energy is lacking, some type of grain can also be added. The whole key is knowing the quality of the forages being fed. A good trace mineral supplement should also be fed free choice to the cowherd. Many of our forages lack the trace minerals needed to insure return to estrus.
Body Condition
Body condition is directly correlated to how well or poorly the cows are being fed, which in turn can have a drastic affect on return to estrus, services per conception, calving interval, milk production, weaning weight and calf health.
Research has shown that the target body condition score for cows at calving time is a BCS score of 5. This of course is using the numerical system from 1 to 9 in which a score of 1 is extremely thin and a score of 9 is obese. First calf heifers should have a BCS score of 6 at calving. It is important to maintain these body condition scores through proper nutrition after the cows or heifers have calved. If the females are losing body condition after calving, reproductive efficiency and income is reduced.
It is recommended that the cows and heifers be body condition scored at weaning time in the fall. Those cows that are thin and need additional condition can then be fed accordingly to improve condition scores prior to the calving season. It is very hard to increase body condition once the cow or heifer has calved.
Calving Difficulty
A research project conducted in Montana showed that cows that had difficulty in the delivery of their calf took longer to cycle back than cows that experienced no calving problems. It is extremely important to try and minimize calving difficulty in your herd. Of course it is impossible to eliminate all calving problems, but the key is to determine when a problem is occurring and provide assistance early. This same research project showed that early assistance reduced the time it took to return to estrus compared to cows that experience a long drawn out calving problem.
Early assistance pays off in relation to return to estrus, calving interval, and healthier calves.
Summary
The goal of having each cow calve every 365 days is a tough goal to reach but can be done through proper management. Paying close attention to the factors outlined in this newsletter will help. Feel free to contact your veterinarian, nutritionists or myself if you have questions or concerns on this topic.
On The Lighter Side
“Jim, come on in, the doctor will see you now,” the nurse said as she opened the doorway that led into the examination area of the doctor’s clinic. “Take a seat up on the table and make yourself comfortable. The doctor will be in momentarily.”
“How will I explain my condition to the doctor? Will he be able to help me? How much is this going to cost me? Is the nurse going to give me a shot?” I muttered to myself as I sat there in the cold examination room. Just then the door opened and in walked Dr. Boneman.
“Well Jim, long time no see. What brings you in here today?” the doctor said as he surveyed my chart. “Doc, this is really painful for me. I have put this off for many years and finally with some coaxing from my wife, I have decided to get some help.” I said with a helpless look in my eye. Dr. Boneman got a very concerned look on his face and then got real serious. “Jim, I’m here to help but you’ve got to tell me all about your problem. What are the symptoms?”
Squirming like a greased pig running from a hoard of kids, I finally started to explain my situation. “It all started over thirty years ago. I was young and impressionable and watched all the male role models in my life partake in this activity each and every day. Soon I found myself longing for it, first in small doses and then I couldn’t get enough. It was as if it were a genetic thing passed down from one generation to the next. I would spend all my spare time with it and any spare cash went towards funding this activity. I even borrowed money to support it and once used the spare cash we were saving to buy Christmas presents to satisfy my need.”
“Wow, that sounds serious,” Dr. Boneman said. “Heck I’m only getting started,” I said as the years of frustration came flowing out of my mouth. “My condition got worse. I started trying to get my own kids involved. I used up my vacation time wallowing in my habit and found myself wanting to only associate with people that shared my affliction. What can I do? Is there a cure for a guy like me?” I pleaded with the doctor as tears welled up in my eyes.
“Jim this problem is serious. I don’t think we should have you use any drugs because that may compound the problem. Have you ever thought about attending AA or some other support group?” Dr. Boneman asked with a worried tone in his voice. “What? AA?” I asked. “Why in the world would I want to attend an AA meeting?” “Jim, Alcohol Anonymous is a great program that really helps people with addictions to alcohol such as yours. I think you should start attending the local meetings.”
“Doc you misdiagnosed this one by a mile. I’m not addicted to alcohol; heck I barely drink one beer a month. My addiction is to the cattle business. I can’t get it out of my system. It’s in my blood. I am not the only one with it either. Everyone that has cattle comes down with the condition. It is highly contagious. Can you help my friends and me? Please before it’s too late!”
posted by Extension Office at 9:41 AM
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