Management
Table 1. Cost per cow failing to breed in the first 21 days of the breeding season
Cost, Item
Drylot 1 Pasture 2
Diet Cost, $/day $2.25 $1.10
Feed Cost a , $ per missed cycle $47.25 $23.10
Lower weaning weight b , $ $78.75 $78.75
Total Cost $126.00 $101.85
¹ Free choice poor quality hay supplemented with CGF, $0.10/d mineral cost
² Pasture Rent=$90/acre, 6 mo. grazing, 2 acre/cow, $0.10/d mineral cost
a
Diet cost multiplied by 21 days
b
Assumed calf ADG of 2.5 and multiplied by 21 days, $150/cwt
Researchers from University of
Nebraska-Lincoln investigated
the effect of calving period on
heifer progeny. Results show
that heifers of cows calving in
the first 21 days of the calving
season have lower birth weights,
heavier weaning weights, and
higher pregnancy rates as
bred heifers when compared
to heifers born to cows calving
later in the calving season.
They also were more apt to
calve in the first 21 days of the
calving season as they entered
production, had lighter calves
at birth that weaned off heavier,
and they bred-back with
numerically higher pregnancy
rates as first-calf cows.
There is no doubt in my mind
that there is a positive snowball
effect from focusing on front-
loading your calving season
and selecting replacements
from cows that are calving
early in your season. I would
not encourage pulling bulls
after a 60-day breeding season,
because of the premium for
22 | MAY 2019
bred cows. I would utilize a
pregnancy check to identify
late-bred cows and then market
them before the calving season
as bred cows. Just because
they don’t fit for your operation
doesn’t mean they don’t fit for
someone else’s. The key is to
identify the cows that annually
are at the front of your calving
season. Select and propagate
those genetics to make cows.
Tips for getting cows to
breed early in the season
• Select replacements
from cows that calve
early in the season
• Have cows in correct
Body Condition
Score (ideally 6)
• Avoid decreasing plane
of nutrition at breeding,
cows losing weight do
not breed up well
•
Invest in a good mineral
program, consider
injectable mineral
products 30 days prior to
breeding if mineral status
may be compromised
• Consider synchronization
and timed-AI to front-
load the calving season
• Transition cows to lush,
spring forage with a dry,
low protein supplement
• Move pre-breeding
vaccines to at least 30
days prior to breeding
• Limit stress. Use low-
stress animal handling
when processing cows
• Avoid transporting of
cows between 4 -45
days post breeding
• Provide adequate shade
in breeding pastures
• Conduct a breeding
soundness exam on all
bulls prior to turnout I