Reproduction

Colorado rancher Kit Pharo guesses his cow herds have gone at least two decades without fly or worm treatment.

While calving season is still in full swing in some states, planning for a successful breeding season should be in the back of our minds. The use of estrous synchronization in beef cattle production is often linked directly to artificial insemination (A.I.). However, one of the most valuable benefits from A.I. has nothing to do with A.I. itself, but actually comes from the estrous synchronization programs.

You hear more about mature cow size and growth potential of calves, now that profit ebbs and flows with the cycle. We’ve written about mature size, but not much about how to use the relevant tools to change it. So now, let’s examine the strategies and tools available, and the unintended consequences of ignoring them.

What was once a cost-prohibitive and unprecedented management practice for beef producers has become more attainable in recent years. Assisted reproductive technologies, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET), have become stronger options to use alongside live cover.

Herd management decisions can have a heavy impact on the success of fixed-time A.I. and estrous synchronization techniques.

Commercial cattle producers may jump into the seedstock business because the notion of selling a bull or heifer for big bucks is appealing.