Reproduction

Developing replacement heifers is one of the most expensive aspects of a cow-calf operation. Eliminating heifers that may not be successful cows early in the development process reduces costs.

Understanding reproductive efficiency can sometimes be confusing. Does it mean getting the most cows pregnant in a single breeding season with little cost or fewer bulls? How does one quantify reproductive efficiency?

The 2-year-old year is the toughest time of a cow’s life. It’s nursing its first calf, still growing and needs enough nutrition and body condition to cycle on schedule after calving.

You may be a full-time beef producer or have a herd of cattle as a sideline or hobby in addition to your regular job. Caring for cattle in a cow-calf operation can be time-consuming and demanding. I hear all the time from producers they are tied down by caring for cattle.

Tritrichomonas foetus is a sexually transmitted disease of cattle. T. foetus, more commonly called trich, was first discovered in 1888 in France. Unfortunately, 130 years later, this disease remains a significant challenge for cattle producers.

Three months into the new year, you’ve likely outlined improvement goals for your operation. Depending on the overarching operational goals, the focus could range anywhere from improving pasture utilization to decreasing death loss on high-risk calves.