Reproduction

Bull selection is critical for maximizing pregnancy and calf performance potential. With that, there are several factors and qualities that should be considered with respect to a beef operation’s needs and expectations. The following is a summary of those critical considerations.

Burke Teichert, ranch consultant and speaker says, “One of the biggest determinants of ranch profit is the cost of developing or acquiring herd replacements.” Replacement heifers are important to ranch profitability and need to be successful cows that stay in the operation for a long time.

Cattle producers in the U.S. should be asking themselves: “What is high-quality beef and how do we produce it?” Not only is high quality what the packers and consumers want, but there are also incentives for those who produce a quality product.

Anyone associated with feeding cattle understands that performance factors influence feed costs of gain (feeding margins), and the impact on razor-thin margins can be big.

The ideal season for calving has been a hot topic for ranchers over the last several years. The traditional time of year for calving season stretches anywhere from late February to early May.

The majority, at least two-thirds, of cattle producers are spring-calving operations, with calves being born during the months of February through May and some producers having calves hitting the ground as early as late January and as late as May.