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As the breeding season approaches, generally everyone is thinking about getting cows and heifers in shape for the breeding season. A nice, tight breeding season results in a nice, tight calving season, which generally is the most economical for producers. However, the cow is only half of the equation. Don’t forget about the bulls!

Safe and effective cattle handling has always been important. In the past few years there has been a move toward what has been called low-stress handling, or as I prefer to call it, a return to sound stockmanship.

With the onset of bull buying season, having a systematic approach to finding and identifying the “right” bull is imperative. Bull selection is the most critical factor for genetic improvement in cow-calf herds, as the influence of the bull impacts both the immediate calf crop as well as future calf crops through the performance (and costs) of his daughters. Consequently, bull selection warrants careful planning and preparation, well in advance of any sale or visit from an AI representative. Consider the following steps to assist in the bull-buying process:

There are several economic advantages to retaining raised calves or purchasing calves and selling them later in groups at heavier weights. These stocker (growing calves on pasture) or backgrounding (growing calves using mixed feeds or stored forages) programs add value to cattle for feedlots because they desire cattle that are weaned, are from a minimum of suppliers, are familiar with feedbunks and water sources and have minimal health issues.

Much has been written and is well understood about the value of heterosis (hybrid vigor) in several facets of production agriculture. Hybrid corn is a mainstay in the corn industry and has provided tremendous improvements in corn yields over the past century. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: “About 95 percent of our corn acreage now is planted to hybrid corn. We [the U.S.] produce at least 20 percent more corn on 25 percent fewer acres than in 1930, when seed of hybrid corn became available in quantity to American farmers.”

This is a question that is commonly asked as producers try to line up spring and summer management considerations, budgets and calf marketing options. The primary objective of this management practice is to put additional weight on the calf before weaning without making the calves fleshy, especially if sold at weaning. Fleshy calves are discounted in market price. To creep or not to creep really boils down to this – can it be accomplished economically to increase the profit potential for the cow-calf enterprise?