February 2011 Articles

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Beef Cattle Reproductive Efficiency – Profitability

Beef (Dr. Tim Page)
Beef Cattle Reproductive Efficiency – Profitability
One of the most important economic concerns for cow-calf producers is reproductive efficiency. Some economists say it is 10 times more important than production (weaning weights, etc.) and 20 times more important economically than carcass traits and/or product. Revenues are increased in a herd that produces more calves per exposed female, by selling more calves. Depending on the source you check, Louisiana calving rates range from 50 percent to 97 percent. One of the first goals of all producers should be to maximize the reproductive efficiency of their herds. Some management techniques that can improve reproductive efficiency in beef cattle herds are:
• Palpate and remove all non-producing cows. The best way to eliminate non-producers is to evaluate each cow and heifer critically as to health and physical soundness and to palpate each cow in your herd.
• Maintain cows in moderate body condition score (BCS) at calving. A cow should calve at a BCS of 5 or higher, while a heifer should calve at a BCS of 6. Many problems are associated with low body condition at calving such as: cows do not cycle postcalving, longer calving intervals, increased number of bull services for conception, decreased weaning weights, more open cows and cows are more susceptible to disease.
• Conduct breeding soundness exams on all bulls every year. Be sure you are using fertile bulls. The bull is responsible for every calf born in the herd so he must be healthy and fertile.
• Use the proper vaccinations against reproductive diseases and use them correctly. Routinely vaccinating herds protects against immunological catastrophes. Most cattle are challenged on a regular basis from a variety of sources such as commingling, water runoff, purchased animals and carrier animals in a herd.
Source: Animal Industry News Update, LSU AgCenter