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Reproductive Wreck Remedies

MU's Michael Smith offers principles of reproductive management to move a herd toward a higher level of production.

by Troy Smith for Angus Journal

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2013) — What have your cow herd’s pregnancy rates been in recent years? What is the calving distribution throughout the calving season? If your heifers and young cows don’t calve near the front end of the season, and you’re not seeing close to 85% of calves born within 60 days, you might need to work on the reproductive performance of your herd.

 

That was the message shared by University of Missouri (MU) animal scientist Michael Smith during a Cattlemen’s College^® session at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention in Tampa, Fla. Smith emphasized principles of reproductive management that can move a herd toward a higher level of production. He warned producers that it takes discipline.

 

“The good things you do don’t compensate for the mistakes you make,” said Smith, "and your mistakes can cancel out the things you do right.”

 

Smith emphasized the importance of having a defined calving season, and how cows that calve early in that season are likely to be the most profitable. Early-born calves post higher weaning weights, so cows that consistently calve early will produce more payweight during their lifetimes.

 

Smith said improvement to a herd’s reproductive performance starts with selection of replacement heifers. He recommended choosing early-born heifer calves that have not received growth-promoting implants. Smith advised producers to develop heifers to an appropriate breeding weight and subject all to a prebreeding exam by four to six weeks prior to breeding. Performed by a veterinarian, the exam should include palpation of heifers’ reproductive tracts. Choose higher-scoring heifers.

 

If taking pelvic measurements, Smith warned against keeping heifers with the largest measurements. Pelvic size is related to skeletal size so it could contribute to increased mature cow size. Instead, he advised producers to focus on culling heifers with very small pelvic measurements.

 

Smith recommended breeding heifers two to three weeks ahead of cows. Delivering their first calves early allows heifers more time to recover after calving and return to estrus before the next breeding season.

 

“Consider implementing fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) to increase the proportion of early-calving heifers. Use sires with high-accuracy EPDs (expected progeny differences) for calving ease to reduce dystocia,” advised Smith.

 

As management of cows, Smith recommended careful attention to precalving and postcalving nutrition. At calving, he advised, cows should have a body condition score (BCS) of at least 5. He also recommended systematically reducing the calving season to a period of 60-70 days.

 

Hastening recovery from postpartum anestrus can help maintain a 365-day calving interval for cows. Methods include manipulation of the suckling effect on anestrus through very early weaning or temporary calf removal. A less management-intensive method might be biostimulation with a bull, allowing fenceline contact with females at 30-40 days postpartum.

 

“Another very effective way to jump-start estrus in cows is by using an estrous synchronization protocol,” added Smith.

 

Now in its 20th year, Cattlemen’s College has established a reputation as one of the most thorough cattle producer education programs in the nation. Coordinated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the educational program is sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health (formerly Pfizer Animal Health).