Considerations for Maintaining Condition in our Breeding Bulls during Winter

Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist Maintaining weight or gaining the weight back that bulls lost over the breeding season will be important to manage during the winter. Photo credit Troy Walz. For bulls coming out of the breeding season, body weight loss may have occurred, and we need to make sure that we get bulls back in condition before the next season. Also, with the weather starting to change, starting to think about…

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Cattle Chat: Measuring genetic success at sale time

K-State beef cattle experts say post-weaning sale weight isn’t the only factor in the equation MANHATTAN, Kan. — Experts at the Beef Cattle Institute say an animal’s performance at sale time is often considered the test for the outcome of breeding decisions, but it is only a small consideration in measuring genetic success. Brad White, veterinarian and BCI director, laid out the following scenario to kick off a recent Cattle Chat podcast about evaluating the…

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Selecting Replacement Heifers Based on Birth Date and Age of Dam

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator Photo credit Aaron Berger. Two research studies at the University of Nebraska by Dr. Rick Funston, beef reproductive physiologist at the West Central Research and Extension Center, suggest that the key information needed to identify heifers most likely to be successful as replacements is known the day the heifers are born. The 2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report “Effect of Calving Period on Heifer Progeny” (PDF 140KB) and…

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Beef genetic data tools defined

K-State beef cattle specialist explains ways to effectively use data in sire selection MANHATTAN, Kan. — In any team sport, members contribute their physical strengths to help achieve the goal for the common good. It is hard for an athlete to be the best in all aspects of the game. In much the same way, bulls that excel in maternal traits are not always the ones that reach the top of chart for…

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Valuing Bred Beef Heifers

Dr. Andrew Griffith, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee Several weeks ago, there was a discussion on rules of thumb for valuing bred beef heifers. This led to a question this week about rules of thumb related to valuing bred cows and their appreciation and depreciation. There are no rules of thumb, but there was some research performed at Oklahoma State University that can be helpful in determining…

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K-State experts lay out criteria for evaluating bulls

Summer is a good time to evaluate bulls as they leave the breeding pastures. | Download this photo. K-State experts lay out criteria for evaluating bulls Summertime culling decisions hinge on several factors MANHATTAN, Kan. — As bulls come off the summer breeding pastures, producers have several criteria to consider when making culling decisions, according to experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute. In a recent CattleChat podcast, they debated whether fertility…

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Caring for bulls during the breeding season

K-State experts share tips on how to manage the bulls for optimum performance MANHATTAN, Kan. – Just as an athlete can experience an injury in competition, so too can a bull when he is turned out in a breeding pasture where his athleticism is going to be tested. “Bulls will be the busiest in the first month of the breeding season when there are a lot of females coming into heat (estrus),” said…

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Targeting optimum cow size

The average return for an extra 100 pounds of cow weight is five to seven pounds of additional weight of the calf at weaning.. K-State beef cattle specialists discuss factors that influence the most efficient cow size MANHATTAN, Kan. – Genetics, feed resources and calf marketing windows are just some of the influencing factors that determine the optimum size for cows to grow, according to the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute’s team…

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Minimizing Synchronization Costs

Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist With the word, “uncertainty” looming in many of our heads, it’s a prime time to consider strategic management approaches to maintain an operation’s bottom line. With calving season quickly coming to an end and breeding season right around the corner, it’s time to look at how money can be invested intelligently and outcomes can be beneficial. Consider Lower Input Estrus Synchronization Protocols With the rising costs…

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Management Strategies for Minimizing Early Pregnancy Loss

Sydney O'Daniel, Nebraska Exension Beef EducatorRick Funston, Nebraska Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist Managing cows and heifers to be on a positive plane of nutrition at the time of breeding is essential for the establishment of pregnancy. Photo credit Troy Walz. As we approach the breeding season, cows and heifers are faced with a variety of stressors from the metabolic pressure of providing for a calf to changes in environment. Stress during early…

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