Maximizing Reproductive Maximizing Reproductive Performance inPerformance in

Beef CowsBeef Cows

Keith VanderVeldeLivestock Agent

Marquette Co. UWEX

Spring 2004 Cow Calf ProgramsMauston-March 6Plover-March 13

Montello-March 20

Reproductive Performance

Cows Job Description Cows Job Description is ??is ??

Reproductive Performance

Cows Job Description1. Produce & Wean Live calf each 365 Year

Requires regular breeding2. Make a positive return to labor & management

Dependent on Feed CostCalf Prices

Reproductive Performance

It all starts with the heifers1. Reach Puberty at 10 months of age

1. Varies by breed-Jersey to Brahman2. Use 65% of mature weight as guide when to breed3. Breed heifer to calve 30 days in advance of cows

1. Allows heifers more time post partum 2. Requires additional feed and labor

Reproductive Performance

It all starts with the heifers1. At calving

1. Assist after 30 minutes of hard labor2. Feed heifers to weigh 85% of mature size3. Have heifers on gaining weight 30 prior to calving

thru rebreeding4. Body condition scores should be 5 or 6

Reproductive PerformanceCows need regular reproduction1. Cows must rebreed 85 days after calving to

stay on 365 day calving interval2. Cows need to be gaining weight from calving to

rebreeding1. Calves will compete for energy 2. Energy and protein needs increase by 50% after

calving

Reproductive PerformanceHow to manage cows to insure regular reproduction

1. Feed cows to gain from mid-gestation to 90 days after calving

2. Body Condition Cows in the fall and spring3. Consider calf removal as a management tool4. Provide adequate high protein, high energy feed for

period from calving to rebreeding1. Consider hold back the best feed for this period2. Supplement with grain and Soybean Meal

Maximizing Reproductive Performance

• Vaccination Programs– BVD and IBR– Leptospirosis– Campylobacteriosis(Vibro)– Trichomoniasis(Trich)

Maximizing Reproductive Performance

• Vaccination Programs– Yearly vaccinations recommended for open

herd with animals coming into herd– Or Vaccinate in response to disease outbreak is

best suited to closed herds

Maximizing Reproductive Performance• Vaccination Programs

– Recommended • BVD• IBR• PI3• Bovine Respiratory Syncitial Virus(BRSV)• Clostridial strains• Haemophilus somnus• Pasteurella haemolytica• Lepto

Maximizing Reproductive Performance• Conduct annual Pregnancy Checks

– Can be done 45 days after bulls are removed– Or should be done 4 months after bulls are

introduced to cows for rebreeding– Open cows should be culled or moved to a

alternate calving program—Fall Calving– BULL Management

• Fertility Check bulls 60 days before breeding season

Maximizing Reproductive Performance

• Leaving the Bull Out Too Long– Length of Breeding Season Matters– Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico Study, Glenn Selk, OSU

Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist– 394 Ranch Records– Positive Relationship between number of days of breeding

season on cost per hundred weight of calf weaned– For each additional day of breeding season the cost per cwt

increased by 4.7 cents and pounds of calf weaned per cow decreased by 0.158 pound

Maximizing Reproductive Performance• Leaving the Bull Out Too Long Conclusions:

– 365 day breeding season results in additional cost of $13.63 per hundred weight of weaned calf as opposed to the 75 day breeding season.

– 365 day breeding season results in 46 fewer pounds sold per cow per year when compared to 75 day breeding season

– On a 50 cow operation the impact is:• Two thousand ninety one (2291) less lbs sold • An increased cost of $68.15 per head for 500 lb calf• $3408 increased cost assuming 100% conception rate

Body Condition ScoringBody Condition Scoring• The main factors determining the pounds-of-

calf-weaned in a beef herd are growth rate of the calf, the proportion of cows pregnant and the calving patterns of the cow herd.

• Producers working with beef cows should:1) Know how to estimate body condition2) Understand the influence body condition has on production.3) Know how and when to change body condition.4) Be able to calculate the costs and returns for changing

body condition.

Practical Importance of Practical Importance of Body Conditioning Body Conditioning

ScoringScoring• Body condition scoring is a subjective

measure of the amount of fat in an animal’s body.

• Body condition influences production in a beef cow herd in three ways:1) Growth rate of a calf suckling a thin cow is decreased.2) Pregnancy rate in thin cows is lowered.3) Thin cows become pregnant later in the breeding season and thus calve later in the following year.

Determination of Determination of Body ConditionBody Condition

• Two methods currently used to determine body condition are:1)Measurement of covering over the ribs, shoulder and back.2) Measurement of covering over the short rib and tailhead.

• Both methods appear to be accurate, and the system used is largely a matter of preference.

• The Nebraska System scores cows from 1 (thin) through 9 (fat) and the Scottish System from 1 (thin)to 5 (fat).

1……………………………emaciated2……………………………very thin3……………………………thin4……………………………borderline5……………………………moderate6……………………………good7……………………………fleshy8……………………………fat9……………………………extremely fat

Pregnancy Rate and Post-Partum Pregnancy Rate and Post-Partum EstrusEstrus

• Studies have shown a decrease in pregnancy rates in thin cows

• Cows that were grazed on similar pastures during a 120-day breeding season varied in pregnancy rate from 23% for body condition score ‘2’ to a 95% pregnancy rate for body condition score ‘7’

• Other studies have shown similar results with the difference ranging from 10% to 20% less in pregnancy rates for cows with body condition score of ‘4’ or less.

• The reason the pregnancy rate is lowered is cows that are in thin condition have a delay in the onset of estrus.

Body condition and pregnancy rate in a Body condition and pregnancy rate in a group of cows in Floridagroup of cows in FloridaBODY CONDITION NEAR CALVING

2 3 4 5&6 7very thin thin borderline moderategood

No. OfCows Pregnant

115 545 564 344 234

After Breeding60 days (%)

5 15 19 40 56

120 days (%)

23 51 73 86 95

Missouri Trial Young Beef Cows

• Condition score  at calving                 Condition score change after calving to day 90                            -1        -0.5        0       0.5        1        1.5        2 

•       3                 189       173      160     150      143     139     139        4                 161       145      131     121      115     111     111        5                 133       116      103       93        86       83       82     5.5                 118       102        89       79        72        69       66   

Proportion of cows showing estrus at Proportion of cows showing estrus at different times after calvingdifferent times after calving

Body Condition2-3 4-6 7-8Thin Moderate Good

No. of Cows 272 364 50

Days post-calving30 3a 7 1340 19 21 3150 34 45 4260 46 61 9170 55 79 9680 62 88 9890 66 92 100

a % of cows showing estrus by this time.

Condition at calving Condition at calving determines rebreeding determines rebreeding

raterate

Post-Calving NutritionPost-Calving Nutrition• It is desirable to maintain cows at a BCS

of 5 or more through breeding. Cows less than 5 need to be fed to improve their condition, which is expensive to accomplish while nursing a calf.

• Research shows that moderate condition cows losing weight after calving tended to show estrus sooner after calving than cows gaining weight.

Post-Calving NutritionPost-Calving Nutrition

• These differences continued until 80 post-calving.

• This information indicated that body condition at calving has more influence on the onset of estrus than feed level post-calving.

Growth Rate of the Growth Rate of the Suckling Calf and Milk Suckling Calf and Milk Production of the CowProduction of the Cow

• Milk consumption and calf growth rates were lower in thin conditioned heifers than those that were in moderate condition.

• The energy level received post-calving had little influence on milk production or calf growth in heifers.

Growth Rate for the Growth Rate for the Suckling Calf and Milk Suckling Calf and Milk Production of the CowProduction of the Cow

• This data indicates that cows that calve thin will have lower milk production and, consequently, slower calf growth than those calving in moderate or good condition.

Improving Production Improving Production by Changing Body by Changing Body

ConditionConditionImprovement in body condition will

improve the pounds-of-calf-weaned in three ways:1) Calves suckling a cow in moderate or good condition grow faster than calves suckling a thin cow.

2) More cows in moderate or good body condition will be pregnant at the end of the breeding season.

3) More cows in moderate or good body condition will calve early next year.

Weight Changes Needed to Change Weight Changes Needed to Change BCSBCS

CHANGEFROM TO

Increase in weight needed(lbs.)FAT & CALF &MUSCLE MEMBRANESa

TOTAL

ADG Needed to makeChange (lbs.)70days 100days 150 days 200 days

2 5Dry Preg. Cow 241 100 341 4.9 3.3 2.2 1.8Wet Cow 241 0 241 3.3 2.4 1.6 1.1

3 5Dry Preg. Cow 161 100 261 3.8 2.6 1.8 1.3Wet Cow 161 0 161 2.2 1.6 1.1 .9

4 5Dry Preg. Cow 80 100 180 2.6 1.8 1.1 .9Wet Cow 80 0 80 1.1 08 05 04

5 5Dry Preg. Cow 0 100 100 1.3 .8 .6 .4Wet Cow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

a Last 100 days of pregnancy.

What is “GOOD” Body What is “GOOD” Body Condition?Condition?

Body Condition 3

Body Condition 6

Body Condition Scoring Tips

Have a neighbor score your cowsAccept his scoresWe often see our own cows too oftenIf in doubt about condition put in chute

and feel animal over the ribs.Feed to improve to desired conditionIf cows are too fat 7+ do not put on diet

until rebreeding has occurred