Heifer

Stop the Guesswork: Build a Targeted Parasite Plan

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:20:18 GMT

As grass greens up and cattle head back to pasture, many producers are “throwing darts in an open field” when it comes to parasite control, says Tennessee Hereford breeder Ryan Proffitt.

The real-world frustration of deworming programs is knowing if they are working, Proffitt says.

Norbrook Technical Services Veterinarian Megan Bollin explains fecal egg count testing, targeted treatment, concurrent deworming, maintaining refugia and smarter pasture management can turn parasite control guesswork into a targeted plan that protects herd health, preserves dewormer efficacy and ultimately adds pounds to the calf crop.

Both Bollin and Proffitt agree a pragmatic roadmap for modern parasite control is anchored in diagnostics, targeted treatment and strong relationships with veterinarians.

Bollin shares five practical strategies to get the most out of today’s dewormers and preserve them for tomorrow:

1. Sit Down with Your Vet.

She encourages producers to map out a herd‑specific internal and external parasite plan with diagnostics built in.

“Your local vet should be your key partner in designing a program that fits your parasites, climate and management style,” Bollin says.

2. Use the Right Product at the Right Time.

Use the correct class, correct dose and consider concurrent deworming when resistance is a known issue. Your local veterinarian can guide you on proper treatment timing to avoid wasting money.

3. Manage Pastures with Parasites in Mind.

Bollin says pasture management is as important as treatment. Pasture type, quality, topography and drainage should all be considered in your plan, knowing we can’t always do much to change them.

“Only about 10% of the parasite life cycle is in the animal; 90% is on pasture,” she says.

Larvae generally stay below 4” on the grass blade. She says it is important to avoid overgrazing pastures below this height and manage stocking density accordingly.

“When you get a big rain after a drought, the larvae that had been waiting in the manure pats can quickly become infective and significantly increase the risk of infection, especially in young calves,” she says.

4. Prioritize High-Risk Animals.

Calves, stockers, bulls and replacements should be prioritized with the strictest parasite control and monitoring programs.

“Calves, replacement heifers and bulls are typically heavier shedders and more susceptible to the effects of parasites than mature cows,” Bollin explains.

Proffitt notes that many producers historically concentrate on keeping mature cows dewormed while underestimating calves’ role as carriers.

“We don’t need to, and shouldn’t be, treating every animal like we always have,” Bollin adds. “That has gotten us in a pickle with resistance.”

5. Measure and Adjust Treatment.

Bollin says it is important to know where you started. Get a baseline fecal egg count, understand your resistance patterns and monitor the efficacy of your treatment program. So many variables change from year to year: climate, weather conditions, new animals and other stressors. It’s critical to routinely evaluate your deworming program and avoid blindly doing the same thing year after year.

(Proffitt Family)

Diagnostics Are Essential, Not Optional

Fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs) are the most practical method we have to determine if dewormers are still working and at what level.

Bollin explains the process includes:

Collecting rectal fecal samples and recording identification.
Treating animals with product or products of choice.
Resampling the same animals by taking rectal fecal samples, 10 to 17 days later, depending on the drug or drugs used.

The lab will count how many eggs per gram are in that fecal sample. There will be a pretreatment and a posttreatment sample. Bollin says the goal should be greater than 95% reduction.

Proffitt argues FECRTs are worth the hassle.

“If we don’t have a game plan on what we’re doing and we’re just rushing,” he says. “What did we win at the end of the day if we don’t know what we’re doing?”

Proffitt says testing tells him which cows he can skip treating, which saves him money.

Bollin explains in many cases mature cows 3 years and older, shedding low levels of eggs, on a good plane of nutrition, with no other stressors or health concerns (including liver flukes), should not need to be dewormed.

“This supports ‘refugia’ — intentionally leaving low-risk animals untreated to slow resistance,” she explains. “Because they’re mature, they’ve got a competent immune system that can actually fight off these parasites by themselves without a dewormer.”

To reduce costs further, Bollin says producers can pool fecal samples from multiple cows into a single submission.

(Deb Gustafson)

Beating Parasite Resistance Starts at the Chute

Bollin says dewormer resistance, long documented in sheep and goats, is being seen more frequently in U.S. cattle herds.

She says overuse, underdosing and treating every animal regardless of need are major drivers in resistance.

“All of these deworming products, when they were originally approved, had very high levels of efficacy. We’re talking 99% and above,” Bollin explains. “As we’ve continually used these products, efficacy has been challenged because resistance has increased.”

If you’re using products that are no longer effective in your herd, you’re spending money on drugs that don’t work, and you’re not getting the production benefits. One way to restore efficacy when resistance is present is to use concurrent deworming.

Why Concurrent Deworming Matters

Bollin says concurrent deworming is using two dewormers from different classes at the same time. She stresses producers need to work with a veterinarian to avoid unknowingly pairing two products from the same class, which doesn’t provide the intended benefit.

She explains the benefits of concurrent deworming are:

· Higher overall efficacy when two partially effective products are combined. “Say you’ve got two products, for example, each with 70% efficacy. By using them together, you can raise your overall efficacy to levels exceeding 90%,” she says.

· Broader spectrum of parasite coverage.

· Models would suggest a slowing of resistance.

· Only sustainable long-term when used in conjunction with a refugia program. This means we don’t treat every animal. We want to keep a few “good” worms around that are still susceptible to the drug.

Bollin gives the example of pairing a benzimidazole, or a “white dewormer,” such as fenbendazole, albendazole or oxfendazole, with a macrocyclic lactone such as ivermectin, moxidectin or eprinomectin.

She emphasizes the industry unfortunately doesn’t have a lot of studies looking at this, but a study published in 2025 highlighted the benefits of concurrent treatment with fenbendazole in situations where resistance to macrocyclic lactones is likely.

Dung Beetles Are Valuable Allies

Dung beetles break up manure pats, exposing eggs and larvae to sunshine and dry conditions. Some dewormers are more compatible with dung beetle health.

“Two of the dewormers that are not harmful are moxidectin and fenbendazole,” Bollin says. “Those are two molecules that are generally safe for dung beetles, and those could be a good option to pair together.”

Facility where researchers collect blood samples and weigh cattle before and after they are transported. Steers have painted numbers on their backs so their activity can be followed on camera.

(Stephanie Hansen)

Application Technique and Dosing Accuracy Matter

Bollin says accurate body weights, not visual estimates, are critical, explaining underdosing is a key driver of resistance.

“One of the biggest contributors to resistance is that we are just not giving them enough active ingredient,” she says. “If you don’t have scales, it is best to treat to the heaviest body weight in the group, so that you make sure that they’re all getting enough.”

She also stresses the importance of storing deworming products correctly.

“Leaving them by the chute in temperature swings can reduce efficacy,” she says.

Proffitt also reminds producers to read labels and understand rain windows with pour-ons and to avoid mud or manure on hides. Bollin notes that injectables can provide more certainty that the animal is getting the full dose, whereas oral drenches can be spit out and pour-ons can run off or be groomed off by penmates.

Both Bollin and Proffitt frame parasite control not as one more chore on an overloaded to-do list but rather as a strategic, data-driven opportunity to protect animal health, slow resistance and convert good management into pounds sold.

Your Next Read:

Determine Parasite Load and Follow With Treatment

Successful Heifer Pregnancy on First Service Brings Lifetime Returns

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:31:28 GMT

Getting heifers developed, inseminated early and confirmed pregnant plays a significant role in the lifetime productivity of beef and dairy cows.

“Replacement heifers are an investment in the future of beef and dairy operations,” says Joe Dalton, University of Idaho professor and extension specialist in dairy cattle reproduction. “It takes two years to raise a heifer before she starts generating returns.”

Achieving a successful pregnancy from first service breeding, especially when practicing artificial insemination (AI), has the most potential to realize the greatest return on investment for their development.

“There is a difference between an animal that calves at 23 months versus 29 months of age,” Dalton says. “The longer it takes to get a heifer bred, the more it increases management costs and lowers their lifetime potential.”

Why Age Matters

Age at first calving directly impacts the productivity and longevity of beef and dairy replacement heifers. With current calf values, early calving heifers offer greater profit potential for beef and dairy producers.

“Earlier first calving in beef herds brings greater longevity and more lifetime weaned pounds,” Dalton says.

Ideally, beef heifers are selected from cows that calve early in the breeding season so they have more time to develop and can then be bred on first service to calve at the start of their first calving season.

“Heifers that calve early tend to keep calving early and produce more weaned pounds,” Dalton says. “Late-calving heifers rarely catch up or pay off on their $1,500 to $2,500 development costs.”

Most dairy farms don’t have the same seasonality as beef herds, since calving occurs year-round to keep a steady stream of cows in milk, but the same thinking holds true.

“The goal for dairies is to develop heifers that are approximately 22 to 24 months of age at calving,” Dalton says. “The data shows that dairy heifers calving in that age range have more longevity and produce more lifetime milk than older heifers at first calving, which can help sooner recoup development costs that can exceed $2,500.”

Set Up For Reproductive Success

For heifers to conceive on first service and stay productive, it begins with good management practices early in life.

“It all starts when the heifer is born,” Dalton says. “And that sounds like a cliché, but it’s not, because that heifer will carry all of her life experiences with her.”

Beef and dairy heifers require high-quality colostrum after birth to support their immune systems. Then health must be maintained through vaccinations, deworming and timely treatment of illnesses. Ensure nutrition supports growth to at least 55% of mature weight by breeding at 13 to 15 months of age.

“With nutrition, heifers need to stay in appropriate condition to have the best reproductive outcomes,” Dalton says. “Fertility is lower when they are under- or over-conditioned. It needs to be just right.”

Dalton recommends dairies have heifers at a body condition score (BCS) of 2.75 to 3.25 on a 5-point scale. Beef operations should have heifers at a 5 to 6 BCS on a 9-point scale.

“Having heifers at those benchmarks is really beneficial for overall fertility,” Dalton says.

Some breeding indicators have easy-to-read bullseyes (black surface ink) on them. Once the bullseye, or the equivalent surface area, is rubbed off the animal, that animal is ready to breed and is up to three times more likely to result in a confirmed pregnancy.

(Estrotect)

Breed Heifers On Time

Once heifers are developed to their target size goals, it’s time to begin a breeding program. There are some variances in AI breeding protocols between mature cows and heifers.

“The difference is that while heifers respond to synchronization protocols the same as cows, there’s a little bit of variation in heifers in the number of follicular waves,” Dalton says.

A vital component of a breeding protocol to ensure success is to utilize estrus detection through tools, such as an Estrotect Breeding Indicator, to accurately gauge estrus intensity.

“Determining when estrus intensity is at its highest is incredibly important to fertility because the pieces of the puzzle are all where they should be when it comes to hormones and the reproductive tract being ready for insemination,” Dalton says. “Data has revealed that high estrus intensity leads to increased pregnancy and decreased pregnancy loss for cattle.”

Estrus detection aids, such as breeding indicator patches, help monitor estrus activity and provide a quick visual indication when heifers reach high estrus intensity.

“Accurate estrus detection tells us a heifer is ready to breed,” Dalton says. “Synchronization protocols can combine estrus detection and AI or timed-AI for better pregnancy rates.”

Heifer-specific protocols have been developed by the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) and the Beef Reproduction Task Force (BRTF) that can be accessed on their websites for specific details. A cattle reproductive specialist can also help identify which protocol will work best to breed heifers.

“By implementing quality management protocols, you’re better controlling the investment in developing heifers so they can become productive members of the herd,” Dalton summarizes. “For both beef and dairy producers, earlier age at first calving results in lower costs and higher lifetime productivity.”

For more information on accurately breeding heifers with breeding indicator patches, visit ESTROTECT.com .

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Breeding in the Drylot: Strategies for Success in Confinement

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:00:51 GMT

Whether confinement feeding of beef cows is part of a cropping and livestock integrated system, or if cows have been displaced due to drought or fire, there are several key concepts to keep in mind when breeding season occurs in confinement.

When drought or wildfire forces cattle off the range, the breeding season doesn’t stop — it simply changes location. Transitioning cow-calf pairs into confinement is often a move of necessity, but maintaining reproductive efficiency in a drylot requires a specialized blueprint.

Breeding beef cattle in confinement presents a unique set of challenges, but it also offers a significant opportunity for precision management. According to Nebraska Extension Specialist Karla Wilke , success in a confined breeding system hinges on three critical factors:

Providing adequate bunk space to manage social hierarchy
Delivering nutrient-dense rations that meet the high energy demands of lactation
Leveraging the close proximity of working facilities to implement advanced reproductive technologies like artificial insemination

Wilke shares her suggestions regarding breeding season confinement in a recent UNL BeefWatch article and in a webinar focused on confinement feeding cow-calf pairs .

(Karla Wilke)

Housing and Space: Beyond the Feedlot Pen

According to Wilke, bunk or feeding space needs to be about 2 feet for cows and bulls and about 1 foot for calves. This is especially true if a nutrient-dense, limit-fed ration is being used.

“Feedlot pens are not the only place cow-calf pairs can be confined,” she says. “Producers may also be able to use fallow ground, pivot corners or calving pastures. However, a minimum of 500 square feet per pair is recommended.”

When possible, it is also recommended that calves have their own loafing space inaccessible to the cows. Wilke stresses this reduces exposure to pathogen loads, may provide shade or wind protection and during breeding season can shield calves from getting stepped on.

The Lactation Gap: Meeting High Nutritional Demands

Lactation is a huge energy drain on the cow.

“Feeding a diet similar to what the cow received during gestation will not meet her needs, causing her to draw from her energy reserves to feed her calf, and thereby decrease her chances of rebreeding,” Wilke explains. “A lactation diet similar in intake and quality to green grass is needed.”

Read more about why energy, protein, minerals and weekly body condition checks are critical to getting cows and first‑calf heifers rebred on schedule:

From Calving to Conception: Nutrition Strategies to Keep Cows on Track

Wilke adds the calf is beginning to eat forages, so extra feed needs to be provided to ensure the calf is not eating feed that was assumed to be for the cow, thereby causing her to lose body condition.

The Confinement Advantage: Streamlining AI and Synchronization

She says one positive aspect of maintaining cows in confinement is that they may be in close proximity to working facilities, providing an opportunity to employ artificial insemination (AI) or allow producers to tighten the calving window by synchronizing cows while still using natural service.

Read more about synchronization options and the benefits of AI:

Upgrading in One Generation: The ROI of Artificial Insemination

Maximizing Reproductive Success: How to Use Estrus Synchronization to its Full Potential

(Karla Wilke)

Social Dynamics: Managing Bull Age and Hierarchy in Close Quarters

Older bulls tend to dominate the breeding season, and this can be especially true in confinement.

“If possible to divide cows into groups, consider pairing younger bulls together, giving them the appropriate ratio of cows for their age ,” Wilke explains. “When dividing bulls into groups for confinement breeding, strong fences between groups are critical. Giving bulls two or three weeks to acclimate to breeding groups before turning in with cows when possible also helps reduce fighting.”

Drought and fires can take a toll on cattle. While it is always recommended to have a breeding soundness exam on bulls before turnout, it is especially important when bulls have experienced stressful situations that may impact structural soundness and fertility.

Read more about how a bull’s fertility and breeding ability are crucial to a producer’s success:

Wanted: Bulls Ready to Work

Is Your Bull Ready for Turnout? 4 Steps to Ensure Breeding Success

Due to the size of mature bulls, the growth requirement of young bulls and the activity level during the breeding season, bulls also need a high-quality diet. Maintaining bulls in a body condition score (BCS) of 5 or 6 on a 1 to 9 scale helps keep them healthy and productive.

Read more about how body condition scoring is an important tool for producers to use to make sure bulls are in good condition:

Body Condition Scoring Bulls: Now is the Time to Make Sure Bulls Are Ready for Turnout

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Upgrading in One Generation: The ROI of Artificial Insemination

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:26:05 GMT

For smaller producers, having access to advanced reproductive technology can feel like a hassle and often limit their genetic options during breeding season. From understanding synchronization protocols to ordering and storing semen to heat detections and artificially inseminating their cows, the process may seem inconvenient at first. The biggest benefit artificial insemination (AI) offers producers is being cost-effective and easily accessible.

“The price comparison of using AI versus buying a bull is one of the biggest benefits,” says Christian Lewis of Lewis Cattle Services LLC. “With AI, we can get all cows exposed for around $60 to $70 per head, depending on semen price. There are a lot of high-quality bulls with semen available for less than $50 per straw. We can also mate cows individually. AI-bred cows and AI-sired calves generally bring more at sale barns.”

Lewis offers a variety of reproductive services to producers looking to improve their genetics without breaking the bank. After growing up on a small feedlot and grain farm in South Dakota and earning an animal science degree, he went to work for Select Sires in Minnesota.

“I got introduced to AI while working at a purebred Charolais operation after college,” he says. “I wanted to be more involved with AI so I got a job with Select Sires and I was a large herd dairy technician for them for five years. I helped progressive dairies over 1,500 cows with genetic selection, reproductive management as well as AI.”

Now, Lewis resides in Redfield, S.D., and offers AI, embryo transfer (ET), estrous synchronization and ultrasound services to local cattle producers. His typical customers are looking to build on their genetics without sacrificing structure and functionality, and reproductive services like AI allow a larger genetic pool to select from.

Anton Hermes of Hermes Livestock in Colorado and his brother, Derek Hermes, who operates Hermes Genetics, travel and breed around 10,000 to 12,000 head a year with their AI services.

“The energy to upgrade your genetics in one generation is probably the most valuable tool or asset that we have, especially in a small herd,” Anton says. “If you want to go buy those calving-ease bulls, they are very expensive. You can buy those genetics a lot cheaper than you can buy the bull. That straw of semen is going to cost $20 to $30 and the process of AI, it is so much simpler than people think.”

An ABS Global representative, the majority of the genetics Anton recommends and uses to breed customer heifers are ABS sires. Both ABS Global and Select Sires serve dairy and beef producers with genetic and reproductive technologies. For Anton, many customers will bring the heifers to him and he develops them in his grow yard, will AI them. He helps with majority of the mating decisions as well.

Read more about how Hermes has found success selecting and developing bred heifers and marketing them:

Building for the Long Haul: The Hermes Strategy for Premium Bred Heifers

Nutrition First: Preparing Females for a Successful Breeding Season

The first step in utilizing AI is preparing your females . Lewis says the heifer or cow needs to be at a five or six body condition score and on an increasing plane of nutrition without getting too fleshy.

“We cannot expect cows to get pregnant from AI, or from a bull, if they are losing weight going into the breeding season,” Lewis adds. “A good mineral program that includes chelated minerals is important, as well as working with a good nutritionist.”

Can I AI My Own Cows? The Path to Certification

Both Lewis and Anton recommend trying AI in your herd and even taking an AI certification class.

“I would recommend they take an AI class if they’re interested in learning to do it themselves, with the understanding that the more cattle you can get into, the more comfortable you will become,” Lewis adds. “I have told my previous AI school students that it takes about 100 head to start to feel comfortable. The best way to gain experience is to find a dairy that will let you work through its cull cows. Select Sires, ABS, Genex and Alta will put on AI schools throughout the year. Most agriculture universities have them as well with help from the major AI stud companies.”

Lewis says AI can be a great tool for producers and skill to build on.

“If any ranchers, or anyone else for that matter has any questions or is interested in knowing more, we are more than willing to speak with them,” Lewis continues. “Our services are built around each cow and each breeding season. We aren’t going to suggest anything we don’t believe in.”

Anton echoes Lewis in that there is a lot of opportunities with AI and people to share their knowledge and experience.

“Don’t be scared or intimidated to try AI for the first time because there’s a lot of opportunity out there, and the genetic enhancement is invaluable to your herd,” Anton says. “There’s plenty of guys out there like me that are willing to help.”

You can find more information about Lewis Cattle Services and Hermes Livestock on Facebook.

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As Breeding Begins: 3 Keys to Success

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:51:25 GMT

As pastures green up and calves hit the ground, the real work of the breeding season quietly begins. It’s a short window with long-lasting consequences. From post‑calving cows trying to regain body condition to replacement heifers who must stick the first time to bulls whose soundness and stamina drive the whole program, every decision you make now echoes through future calf crops.

As breeding begins, industry experts share these three keys to help ensure you don’t just turn out cattle — you turn out results:

1. Cows: Manage the Post-Calving BCS Slump

Shelby Roberts, Alltech beef technical support, encourages producers to manage energy, protein and water so cows, especially first‑calf heifers, maintain a body condition score (BCS) of 5 to 6.

She says it is important cows don’t lose more than one score post‑calving. Thin, losing cows come into heat late and breed late.

Read more about why energy, protein, minerals and weekly body condition checks are critical to getting cows and first‑calf heifers rebred on schedule:

From Calving to Conception: Nutrition Strategies to Keep Cows on Track

2. Heifers: Get Replacements Ready to Stick

Dan Tracy, Zoetis beef technical services, says heifer selection drives the herd. He suggests producers select heifers by birth date and quality, then grow them to 65% to 70% of mature weight and BCS 5 to 6 by breeding.

“The most single important thing is their birthday,” he says. “The older heifers are going to set the tone. They’re going to stay in the herd longer. They’re going to calve earlier.”

He says it is important to be hard on heifers — set minimums.

“We’re going to spend a lot of money getting them bred, so we want to get that payback,” he adds. “Use reproductive tract scoring and pelvic measurements 45 to 60 days ahead of breeding to cull the ones that won’t keep up.”

Read more about the importance of heifer development:

Building for the Long Haul: The Hermes Strategy for Premium Bred Heifers

From Selection to Breeding: A Veterinarian’s Guide to Productive Heifers

3. Bull Power: Soundness, Condition and Semen Production Cycles

It is important to manage bulls as seriously as cows. Take the time to evaluate bulls and make sure they are ready to go to work.

Saulo Zoca, University of Tennessee assistant professor and beef cattle reproduction specialist, says a breeding soundness exam (BSE) is like a car insurance policy for a bull. He suggests testing bulls 30 to 60 days before the breeding season to allow time for management decisions.

Read more about how a bull’s fertility and breeding ability is crucial to a producer’s success:

Wanted: Bulls Ready to Work

Along with a BSE, another tool producers should use to make sure bulls are ready to go to work is BCS .

Phillip Lancaster, Kansas State University beef cattle nutritionist, stresses, compared to cows, bulls require more weight change to move between BCS points due to their larger size.

Read more about how environmental and nutritional factors can affect fertility:

Factors That Can Affect Bull Fertility

Synchronization and AI Can Front‑Load Pregnancies

Artificial insemination (AI) and synchronization programs can be a powerful tools when they’re planned, not improvised.

“Synchronization only works if you work the protocol,” says Jennifer Koziol, Texas Tech University associate professor of food animal medicine and surgery. “Put it on a calendar, know who’s doing what on which day, and don’t try to wing it between everything else.”

Oklahoma State University’s Mark Johnson says regardless of when your calving season occurs, manipulating the reproductive process of your cow herd can result in shorter breeding and calving seasons. Accordingly, more calves born earlier in the calving season result in an older, heavier, more uniform calf crop when you wean.

Johnson explains estrus synchronization can be used for natural mating or AI breeding. The labor, not the products, is usually the limiting factor.

“Synchronization protocols permit us to concentrate the labor needed for heat detection to a few days, and in some cases eliminate the need for heat detection when cows can be bred on a timed basis,” he explains.

Read more about synchronization protocols in heifers versus cows and how to find what works best in your operation:

Maximizing Reproductive Success: How to Use Estrus Synchronization to its Full Potential

Trace Minerals: Important for the Whole Herd

A good mineral program can help set a herd up for success. Trace minerals play a critical role in reproduction — supporting fertility, embryo survival and sperm production.

Craig Louder, Axiota Animal Health senior technical consultant, explains, after calving, a cow has roughly 90 days to rebreed in order to stay on a 12‑month calving interval.

“Because that window is so short, we can’t afford delays — mineral deficiencies need to be addressed promptly to support timely conception,” he says. “If we do not have adequate trace minerals. We decrease both the ability to achieve pregnancy and the ability to maintain it. Getting a cow bred has little value if she cannot carry that pregnancy to term and deliver a viable calf.”

Reproduction is one of the first things to suffer when trace mineral status isn’t right. You may not see a sick cow; you just see fewer pregnancies.

“Research has shown that if we don’t have adequate copper, we’re going to be nearly four times more likely to end up with a stillborn calf,” Louder says. “If we don’t have adequate selenium, we can be 31 times more likely to have a stillborn calf.”

As soon as a cow delivers a calf, her trace mineral status drops by 30%. Louder stresses producers have two months to get the trace mineral status built back up.

He says research shows even when on a great organic trace mineral program, feeding a cow 150% of what her requirements are is still going to take close to a month to be able to build it up.

“That’s if your cow is smart enough to go out and read the label and understand that she has to do this and gets all that taken care of,” he adds.

With an injectable, like Multimin 90, producers can bypass a lot of those hurdles an oral supplement takes and rapidly replenish that cow’s trace mineral status.

“It doesn’t replace the oral program,” Louder says. “This is simply a way that we can get it into her at the time we need it for those management practices in a more rapid and efficient manner.”

He suggests producers give a Multimin 90 shot twice per year:

Precalving — 30 days prior to calving is ideal. However, if management doesn’t allow that, supplementation at any point during the third trimester can still provide meaningful benefit.
Prebreeding — 30 days prior to breeding is ideal. If using AI, there is benefit when putting it in at the same time as the CIDR.
“We have reset the follicular waves, and the minerals can be utilized by the follicle that will ovulate the egg that will be fertilized,” he explains.

Don’t forget the bulls.

“Sperm production requires a lot of trace minerals,” Louder says. “It’s a 63‑day process. Most breeding soundness exams are done about two months before turnout. We can hit them with a dose of minerals then, and I recommend giving them another dose at turnout.”

The Countdown to Breeding: A 90-Day Management Timeline

Here’s a suggested timeline as producers prepare for breeding season:

90 days before breeding:
Evaluate cow and heifer BCS. Adjust rations.
Pull previous conception data. Identify problem groups.
60 days before:
Schedule BSEs for bulls.
Finalize heifer development targets and mineral program.
30 days before:
Confirm synchronization protocol and handling dates.
Double‑check facilities, labor and record systems.
Day 0 (AI or bull turnout):
Quick recheck of bull condition and soundness.
Confirm tags and records.

Breeding season will never be completely simple, but it can be far more intentional. The experts agree: protect body condition before you lose it, develop heifers like the high‑dollar investments they are and expect your bulls to work as hard on fertility as you do on everything else. Every pregnant female counts, and success comes from stacking small, disciplined decisions across cows, heifers and bulls.

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Maximizing Reproductive Success: How to Use Estrus Synchronization to its Full Potential

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:43:14 GMT

Synchronization programs are always evolving, and you want to use the best one.

Kansas State University veterinarian Brad White says, “The problem is, the best has a couple of different definitions.”

In a recent episode of “Herd Health,” White and fellow K-State Veterinarian Bob Larson compare estrus synchronization protocols for heifers and cows, and how to determine which is best for your operation.

When determining what protocols to use for artificial insemination (AI), Larson explains there is a difference in steps for heifers versus cows. To see a list of protocols and steps, Larson recommends utilizing the Estrus Synch Planner on the Beef Reproduction Task Force website.

The Hormonal Toolkit: GnRH, Prostaglandin and Progesterone

Protocols are similar for cows and heifers, but there are a few differences to be aware of. Larson explains the three hormones used to synchronize estrus are progesterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRH) and prostaglandin F2Alpha. What varies from cows to heifers is hormone placement time and combinations.

The period from giving the prostaglandin injection to optimal insemination time, is shorter in heifers than cows. When using fixed-time AI, cows should be serviced later.

Why Heifers Respond Faster Than Cows

Larson discusses a key difference in fixed-time AI with heifers is the length of protocol from start to finish. Some protocols can be as long 33 to 36 days or as short as eight days, so producers must decide how much time they have or are willing to spend.

Another factor to consider is how many times a producer will run animals through the chute. In some cases, it could be twice, once for a prostaglandin injection and once for insemination, and other cases could be up to four times. Group size and animal location are both items to consider when choosing the best protocol.

When looking at specific components like progesterone, different protocols list giving this for five, seven or 14 days. If heifers have not already reached puberty and are cycling, they will be jumpstarted, Larson says.

He explains some will reach puberty sooner than usual with this progesterone addition. The longer they’re exposed, the more successful jumpstarting will be. The downside is it is a longer process.

MGA vs. CIDR: Weighing Cost Against Convenience

Heifers can receive progesterone needed for estrus synch in feed form with melengestrol acetate (MGA) or intravaginally with a CIDR that slowly releases progesterone into the bloodstream.

MGA is inexpensive and you don’t need to run heifers through a chute, so if cost and gathering are concerns, this is an effective system. The disadvantage is that the dosage is 0.5 mg per head per day, and that can be difficult to maintain when factors like weather and herd dominance come into play.

To ensure the most successful synchronization, Larson stresses maintaining feeding schedules and allowing plenty of bunk space is crucial. If using MGA, the feeding period is usually 14 days.

White explains the decision to use MGA or CIDRs as cost versus convenience. However, MGA can only be used with heifers.

Most protocols include a GnRH injection at the time of fixed-time AI. This is because all protocols are designed to be optimized, meaning for the majority of the heifers, Larson says.

For example, a 66-hour time frame from the prostaglandin injection to insemination is best for most heifers. This could be late or early for some, so the GnRH injection causes heifers to ovulate if they haven’t already, but most protocols state that heifers will have ovulated prior to the time of insemination.

Some sources say to provide GnRH seven days prior to removing the progesterone source. Larson reminds producers that the whole point of these protocols is synchronization. Giving this injection at that time ensures heifers’ follicular waves are in the same pattern, meaning synchronization is tightened among the group.

The Postpartum Countdown: When to Start Synchronization

The main difference in synchronization in cows is timing between hormone administration and breeding. However, Larson also points out that cows do make the process a little more difficult when they have calves at their side or they are on pasture.

Cows are also actively calving, and Larson says they should calve at least 40 to 50 days before the start of synchronization, but they will vastly range.

Crunching the Numbers: Is AI Right for Your Operation?

Ultimately, deciding to use estrus synchronization and AI comes down to what works best for your operation.

“You have to do the math to make sure it’s worth it for you,” White says.

There are some differences when comparing the protocols for a seedstock and commercial operation.

Once you find a protocol that works for you, he adds, “There are some real advantages to picking a protocol, working with it, and going through the process.”

Consulting the Beef Reproduction Task Force , veterinarians, semen dealers and other community resources are great options when deciding what to implement in your operation.

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Building for the Long Haul: The Hermes Strategy for Premium Bred Heifers

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:07:56 GMT

Selecting and managing highly desirable heifers is Anton Hermes’ specialty. He offers various services to develop heifers on a custom basis for customers and markets his own bred heifers.

Alongside his brother, Derek, who runs Hermes Genetics, Hermes manages Hermes Livestock, and the brothers work hand-in-hand to breed sale and customer cattle. They travel and breed around 10,000 to 12,000 head a year with their artificial insemination (AI) services. For his own herd of commercial mother cows, Hermes will purchase heifers from AI customers or ranches the brothers do business with.

“The customers bring their heifers to our grow yard where we feed and develop them, and later artificially inseminate them, then send them back to the customers pregnant,” Hermes explains.

(Hermes Family)

Steps to Developing a Bred Heifer

The heifer selection process starts with their home-raised females and then buying load lots of females, often from Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming ranches. Then they do pelvic measurements, bangs vaccinations and sort non-breeders into grass cattle groups.

“We prefer to buy heifers when they’re 500 to 600 lb. in the fall, but we will buy some later in the spring if we have pasture available,” Hermes says. “About 200 of these heifers would be grown in our own herd.”

Hermes Livestock’s heifer program consists of Red Angus, F1 red baldies, black Angus and F1 black baldies. Hermes says he prefers the Hereford influence in their F1 heifers but also breeds purebred Angus and Red Angus.

When sorting heifers to the top of the group to develop and market as bred females, he looks for the feminine, moderate-framed heifers with adequate temperament.

“That’s what we’re after, and that’s what our customers are after,” Hermes says. “A lot of times there will be 500 head, and we want to sort 150 off the top to keep for us to breed. We look for something that’s structurally put together, that can walk miles out here in eastern Colorado or Oklahoma or Wyoming or wherever they will end up, and really maternal. We want these cows to live to be 12 years old and still be productive in the cow herd. We’re trying to build the cow herd in the U.S. right now, so maternal longevity is very important. We strive to develop these problem-free cattle that function in any environment.”

Once heifers are sorted, they synchronize them at the grow yard and breed heifers using AI. If they don’t show a heat, he will synchronize and AI again, so every heifer gets a chance to get bred on the AI cycle. After, they are turned out with bulls on grass.

Hermes chooses the bulls he’s going to breed customer heifers to by using them on his herd first.

“I test all the bulls on my own cows. I’ll find a young, up-and-coming sire that I really like and I’ll use them on my own heifers,” Hermes explains. “We’ll calve them out and if they pass the test we’ll use those the next year on the commercial groups. Typically, it’s all ABS genetics. They have an exceptional lineup of calving-ease bulls. We have some mainstays that we’ve used for four years in a row now that are just so popular that we can’t get away from them.”

Other bull selection criteria are liking the bull’s phenotype. Many of the bred heifers sold will go on to produce replacement females for producers so phenotype is important to Hermes.

“We’ll sell somewhere between, depending on the year, 600 to 1,100 head and we’ll market them through a couple different sales of our own as well as private treaty,” he says.

(Photos provided by the Hermes family)

Selling Across the States

Hermes helped start the Maternal Merit Sale Group with Dan Warner of Warner Beef Genetics and Don Maclennan with Valhalla Ranch. The sale offers bred heifers through live auction twice a year in Arapahoe, Neb., and Denver, Colo., at the National Western Stock Show. The Nebraska sale sells heifers in groups based on breed, size and AI- or bull-bred sire. He hopes to add another sale in Colorado this fall.

“We identify the sire groups then; we sort off by size and docility. We are especially picky on the heifer’s docility,” Hermes says of the heifers selected for the sale. “If they’ve got too much fire, then we sort them off. We don’t put them through our sales or private treaty large groups. We’ll sort them by breed and size, and then we’ll market them through that sale, and they usually go to about nine to 13 different states; we will deliver them right from there.”

The sale has offered up to 700 head between Anton, Warner and Maclennan.

The Denver Maternal Merit Sale started after a meeting with Warner, Maclennan and Bobby Strecker, ABS Global district manager. After which Hermes wrote the National Western Stock Show a letter in 2020 and asked if they would add a commercial heifer sale to the lineup at the new facility when it was done.

“We are trying to bring a commercial element back to the National Western and this sale gave us an excuse to do that,” Hermes explains.

Maclennan says it’s given them a platform to show commercial producers the quality of heifers brought to the sale.

“We are very particular on quality and after the first year, people saw that,” Maclennan says. “They have supported us quite nicely since then. We have had nothing but repeat buyers coming and either buying or at least bidding.”

Starting with around 400 Red Angus heifers selected in May, Maclennan will sort off the top 50 or 60.

“Throw them through so many hoops that by the time Denver comes, we’ll have 15 to 20 that are just the elite,” Maclennan says. “They’ve got excited about it and we had a really good crowd.”

The strategy in Denver differed from Arapahoe in that they were showcasing their programs developing heifers and offering programing for commercial producers at a major stock show.

“We’re really just trying to showcase the front end of our commercial genetics as a marketing tool and to bring the basic commercial element of the cattlemen back to Denver,” Hermes adds. “It’s a good tool for us to use for marketing, but it’s also been a good tool for the public. We have since added speakers and educational panels addressing current industry topics.”

A large portion of the private treaty sales tend to come from southern customers in Texas and Oklahoma.

“We have a big following where they’re really looking to improve genetics,” Hermes says. “Some of our best customers for the last five years have been south. We had a ranch last year where about 300 head of bred heifers went to in south Texas.”

His advice to marketing bred heifers is to start with a high-quality animal.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re selling five over 500,” Hermes says. “Sort through them and don’t just breed every one of them. Make sure you get them pelvic-measured, and tract-scored. Do a quality sort for docility and phenotype. If you’re planning to AI them or if you’re going to buy a bull, use a sire that is really current and recognizable. Everybody really likes to know what the cattle are bred to, so I recommend finding a calving ease sire. If you buy them as replacements find out as much information as you can about the genetics.”

His best marketing tactic has been repeat buyers and word of mouth.

“We get more and more phone calls from repeat buyers and their neighbors and that’s how we’ve done a majority of our marketing,” Hermes concludes. “We have grown our brand and sales through positive feedback.”

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The Heifer Retention Blueprint: Why Preparation Starts Long Before Breeding Season

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:58:22 GMT

Preparing replacement heifers to breed starts earlier than deciding which bull to turnout or what semen to purchase. The long-term management of heifers directly correlates with higher conception rates and avoiding calving challenges, and nutrition is key.

When Should I Start Preparing Replacement Heifers for Breeding?

The process begins at birth. While it is common for heifers to be bred to calve at 24 months of age, nutrition management practices starting in the first months of life impact their entire reproductive future. Purina recommends heifers reach a body condition score (BCS) of 6 before calving to ensure a shorter postpartum interval and a successful breed-back the following season.

Weston Schrader says strong maternal genetics are incredibly important to their operation, and that’s where the process of heifer retention starts.

(Schrader Family)

What Are the Best Criteria for Selecting Replacement Heifers?

Schrader Ranch in Wells, Kan., manages around 400 to 500 purebred Charolais, SimAngus and commercial cows. Their replacement heifers are evaluated on strict criteria to maintain quality and efficiency. Well in advance of making breeding decisions, sorting replacement heifers is important to later success.

“Strong maternal genetics are incredibly important to our operation, and that’s where the process of heifer retention starts,” says Weston Schrader. “We keep detailed records of calving ease, udder quality, docility and body condition. Phenotypic quality has always been a priority for our operation; cattle must be structurally sound, functional and fit our environment. From there, we use EPDs (expected progeny differences) to confirm genetic merit and make disciplined, data-backed breeding decisions.”

Schrader identifies four foundational pillars for heifer retention:

Phenotypic quality — Cattle must be structurally sound, functional and fit the environment.
Maternal genetics —Detailed records are kept on udder quality and docility.
Data verification — Using EPDs to confirm genetic merit.
Calving history — Selecting for proven calving ease to minimize future labor.

Christina Christensen of Christensen Charolais Ranch recommends producers only keep their best heifers and avoid single-trait selection.

Located near Wessington Springs, S.D., Christensen manages more than 400 purebred and commercial cows, plus runs stockers on grass. Their breeding program is divided among embryo work, artificial insemination (AI) and using their herd bulls.

“Our primary focus is on carcass and performance while still maintaining functionality and soundness,” Christensen says. “We base our decisions off performance, phenotype and EPDs. This careful selection helps us pick the best of the best. Commercial heifers are selected on breedability, pelvic measurement, disposition and maternal qualities.”

(Schrader Ranch)

Why Is Nutrition Important in Heifer Development?

After sorting heifers, Schrader shifts to nutritional management strategies.

“Ensuring females attain appropriate body condition prebreeding is crucial and allows your best chance at shorter postpartum intervals and the ability to efficiently breed back the following breeding season,” he says.

Christensen echoes nutrition in replacement heifers is of utmost importance.

“Having a stable feed and mineral program is absolutely key,” she says.

The combination of selecting their best heifers for retention and a quality nutrition program is vital for Christensen. When breeding season is approaching, checking breedability and pelvic measurement helps ensure the heifers are ready for breeding.

“Don’t chase only certain traits; make sure to have balanced traits,” she says. “Don’t limit the selection process to single traits. Chasing single traits tends to take away from the broad picture.”

(Christensen family)

Why Is Early Calving Critical?

Another strategy Schrader uses is setting up first-calf heifers to calve in their earliest calving window, allowing them to keep pace with their mature cows the next year.

“Ahead of breeding season we identify proven, calving-ease sires for use in a 14-day CIDR (controlled internal drug release) protocol with a timed-AI option,” Schrader explains. “Then calving-ease bulls are turned out for 30 days.”

By calving heifers in their earliest possible window, producers give them the maximum amount of time to recover and rebreed as second-calvers.

The Heifer Health Roadmap: Protecting Your Future Herd Investment

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:36:58 GMT

Transitioning a heifer calf into a productive, long-term member of the breeding herd requires attention to many important factors, including nutrition, genetic and breeding decisions and environmental management. Disease and health challenges, however, can undermine all that work. Health issues can derail a heifer’s progress at every stage — from her own development to reproductive success, calving and rebreeding.

The Heifer’s Ability to Stay Healthy

Disease problems, even early in life, can have lifelong effects on the breeding female. The most common of these, bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), might not seem like it has much to do with reproduction. However, evidence from the dairy world shows that heifers affected by BRDC as calves exhibit decreased survival to first calving, poorer calving scores, lower first lactation milk production and a higher chance of leaving the herd after first calving due to the disease’s draining effect on immunity and other body systems.

Preventing BRDC needs to start well before the heifer is selected as a replacement. Vaccination for pathogens such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR, or “red nose”), bovine respiratory syncytial virus, Mannheimia hemolytica and Histophilus somni should begin before weaning or earlier, with boosters as required by the vaccine. Close regular monitoring for illness and prompt treatment is important for every calf, but especially for potential replacement heifers. Paying attention to biosecurity concepts, particularly segregating feeder calves or other animals brought into the herd, will help prevent herd BRDC problems as well.

Examples of other diseases affecting heifer health include pinkeye and foot rot. These conditions result in lower weight gains, poorer body condition scores, increased stress and decreased mobility, all potentially detrimental to future fertility. Managing environmental factors such as flies and other eye irritants, and muddy lots are important, while pinkeye vaccination should be considered for heifers. For these diseases, prompt detection and treatment are critical to minimize their effects.

Internal and external parasites are also detrimental to overall heifer health and productivity; calves coming off pasture should be dewormed with an effective parasiticide.

The Heifer’s Ability to Become — and Stay — Pregnant

A heifer’s capacity to become — and stay — pregnant hinges on nutritional, hormonal, genetic and immunologic factors all working together optimally. Lurking in the background, however, is the threat of infectious reproductive diseases. Of these infections, those caused by IBR and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are especially important. Both can cause infertility and pregnancy loss; BVDV infections during pregnancy can result in calves born with birth defects or persistent BVDV infections. With their relatively inexperienced immune systems, heifers are at increased risk for these problems.

Fortunately, effective vaccines are available to protect heifers and their pregnancies against these viruses. Recent research can help inform decisions about the version of and the timing of these vaccines. This information reinforces the importance of setting heifers up as calves and before their first breeding with modified-live (MLV) versions of these vaccines (which conveniently meshes with BRDC prevention mentioned above). In general, pre-breeding vaccines should be given well ahead of breeding or synchronization as to not interfere with the estrus cycle, and killed vaccines should be considered prior to subsequent breeding seasons. Biosecurity is another important aspect of BVDV prevention — in particular, testing incoming herd animals for BVDV persistent infections.

Leptospirosis infections can adversely impact fertility and pregnancy success. Two categories of this bacteria affect cattle: “lepto” strains picked up from environmental sources causing sporadic pregnancy loss, and cattle-adapted strains that can persist in kidneys and reproductive tracts and spread through a herd, causing longer-term insidious reproductive difficulties. Vaccines for both of these versions exist and should be given to replacement heifers earlier than pre-breeding if possible, as heifers can contract and harbor these germs even prior to their selection as replacements.

Neospora infections can affect heifer pregnancies more profoundly than those of older cows. Heifers that blood test positive for Neospora exhibit higher open rates compared to those that are negative. Because no vaccines exist for neosporosis, blood testing heifers prior to their selection as replacements is a worthy strategy.

The Heifer’s Ability to Raise a Healthy Calf

Calves born to heifers are a well-known “population at risk” when it comes to health challenges. Much of that risk is related to colostrum quantity and quality. Optimal heifer nutrition can improve both. Heifers with lower body condition scores produce less colostrum with lower antibody concentration. Therefore, maintaining heifers in moderate to good body condition at calving will optimize colostrum production, as well as future milk production and their ability to rebreed.

Pre-calving vaccination can improve heifer colostrum quality. Common “scours” vaccine programs utilize vaccines containing diarrhea-causing strains of E. coli, Clostridium perfringens, rotavirus and coronavirus. These killed vaccines require boosters when given to heifers, so timing of the first dose becomes important. Because antibodies from the heifer’s bloodstream begin moving into colostrum five weeks before calving, the second dose of vaccine should be given around that time. This requires the initial dose to be given several weeks before that (follow label directions). These vaccines do not elevate the overall antibody concentration in colostrum, but they do increase the level of antibodies against those pathogens.

The Heifer’s Ability to Breed Back

First-calf heifers are notorious for their difficulty in becoming pregnant during their second breeding season. Most of that phenomenon relates to body condition score when breeding commences, but other factors contribute as well. The increased risk of dystocia that heifers experience can lead to uterine infections and retained placentas, both of which delay breed-back.

Prompt recognition and treatment — with veterinary advice — can help minimize the negative impact of these conditions. Other, non-reproductive-related conditions can also hasten a heifer’s early removal from the breeding herd, including mastitis, pinkeye and foot rot — all of which should be quickly identified and treated, again with guidance from a veterinarian.

Managing reproductive vaccine choice and timing is also important as heifers approach their second breeding season. In general, killed vaccines given well ahead of the breeding season represent less risk to a successful early breeding compared to live vaccines given close to the onset of estrus.

The length and success of a heifer’s breeding career depends on preventing and managing their health challenges — starting well before they’re even identified as breeding herd candidates. At every step along the way, advice from a veterinarian with knowledge of your herd can help you avoid many of these health pitfalls.

Retention or Market? Navigating Female Selection in a Volatile Market

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:57:59 GMT

As spring arrives, cow-calf producers face a high-stakes crossroads: which females will stay to build the future of the herd, and which will be culled? While current market optimism is high, making the right choice requires more than just a gut feeling.

On a recent episode of “ Agriculture Today ,” K-State Cow-Calf Extension Specialist Jason Warner breaks down the critical economic factors behind female retention and introduces the data-driven tools K-State Research and Extension offers to help producers maximize their long-term return on investment.

Strategic Planning for Long-Term Herd Growth

At this point in the year, there are many discussions to be had about female retention.

“There’s a lot of really good optimism for the cow-calf sector of the beef industry,” Warner says.

Female retention decisions are critical for producers, especially considering the economic impact on the herd. The investment cost going into females is the first factor to contemplate. Bringing new females in is a long-term investment, so looking at what their rate of return will be is valuable.

Warner says, thinking about long-term goals like herd growth or production is beneficial to retention decisions.

Knowing Your Numbers: The Real Cost of Production

Market projections are one side of decision-making, but producers should also compare their rate of relative return on females.

“Being able to be honest with ourselves on what our production costs are is a really important thing to do,” Warner says

The rate of return per female will reflect what annual production costs are. Parameters like weaning weight, death loss and interest rates influence the costs each year.

Warner says it’s important to consider the varying initial investment costs in each age group of your herd. To aid in these decisions, he recommends using the KSU Beef Replacement Tool .

Built for simple and easy use, these spreadsheets aid producers in determining the Net Present Value (NPV). This value compares if a producer was to keep a female back, take the chances investing in her and project the rate of return versus investing that same money elsewhere.

To ensure accurate projections on your rate of return, Warner explains: “You need to have a good estimate of what you think your production costs are to run those cows on an annual basis, as well as a realistic expectation of what we think feeder calf prices are going to be worth over the lifetime of that female.”

The NPV Advantage: Data-Driven Decision Making

This calculation system is further explained in “ Cost Considerations for Replacements .” In the “Beef Tips” article, Warner, Sandy Johnson, K-State extension beef specialist, and Glynn Tonsor, K-State ag economist, break down the economic views of female retention.

When markets signal expansion of a herd, it takes longer for cattle to reach harvest because of a cow’s biological cycle. This pattern created is known as the cattle cycle, meaning heifers retained at times of low inventory will peak production when fed cattle supplies are increasing while market values decrease.

Timing the Cycle: Navigating Biological Lags

For instance, if the planning horizon is short and forage supplies are fixed, retaining more females may not make sense. But if longer planning outlooks and ample forage or more land are options, retaining females may be the move.

Regardless of whether replacements are raised or purchased, those dollars have an opportunity cost, meaning they could be invested elsewhere.

Using the KSU Beef Replacement Tool allows producers to find how they should look at their value. This spreadsheet system allows producers to look at the impact of a range of annual costs of production. It also has the capability to figure impacts on feeder calf or cull cow sale price projections, both useful numbers to consider.

Setting Your Benchmark for Replacement Value

The principal output of the spreadsheet is the NPV. According to the K-State experts, this value reflects the amount that could be paid for replacements such that the expected rate of return from the investment would be exactly equal to the discount (interest) rate given all the assumptions used in the analysis.

This price could be considered a benchmark, so if producers can buy or develop replacement females at a lower price than the estimated NPV, that is a better economic condition for their herd.

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From Selection to Breeding: A Veterinarian’s Guide to Productive Heifers

Three Non‑Negotiables for Selecting the Next Generation of Females

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:25:20 GMT

Beef producers today are surrounded by data — performance weights, expected progeny differences (EPDs), indexes, genomics and endless traits listed in bull sale catalogs. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and hard to know where to focus. No matter how sophisticated the tools become, the core challenge stays the same: beef producers need cows whose genetics match the environment and management they put them in, and they need them to be profitable.

“Our goal should always be to combine excellent genetics with excellent environment in order to enable that animal to express their true genetic potential,” says Jamie Courter, University of Missouri beef extension specialist.

She says the process starts with a genetic business plan or clear breeding objective.

“No business goes into a bank and asks for a loan without a business plan,” she says. “A breeding objective is no different. It’s just the genetic business plan that you have for your operation. You shouldn’t buy bulls or select replacements without knowing how your genetics are supposed to make money.”

She says producers need to consider:

Are you selling calves at weaning?
Holding them to yearling?
Retaining ownership to the rail and selling on a grid?

Each path points toward different economically relevant traits:

Weaning weight
Yearling weight
Carcass quality and yield

She says it is important to also consider these indirect economic traits:

Docility
Feed efficiency
Mature cow size
Structural soundness, udders, feet and legs

“Once you’ve outlined those economic drivers, there are three foundational traits I consider non‑negotiable when selecting the next generation of beef females,” Courter stresses. “Mature cow weight, hair shedding and calving ease.”

She explains these traits affect both biological efficiency and the ability of a female to thrive in her environment.

1. Mature Cow Weight

The industry has paid a lot of attention to weaning and yearling weights, but much less to what has quietly been happening to mature cow size. Across breeds, genetic trends show mature cow weight has been pushed higher and higher over time.

“As an industry, we have not been paying attention to it,” she explains regarding mature cow weight. “We have been driving not only the genetic merit, but the actual mature weight of our U.S. cow herd higher and higher, and from an efficiency and a profitability standpoint, there are a lot of problems with that.”

She says bigger cows eat more, require more forage per pair and may simply not fit a producer’s resource base or stocking rate.

Mature cow weight is not inherently good or bad, but it must fit the environment and management. A 1,600 lb. cow on marginal grass in a low‑input system is a very different proposition than a similar cow in a high‑input, irrigated environment.

She adds if you ignore mature weight, you may find your “better” genetics are actually eroding profitability because your cows require more feed than your operation can economically provide.

2. Hair Shedding

Courter says hair shedding is one of the simplest, yet most powerful, adaptation traits the industry has largely overlooked. It measures how quickly a cow gets rid of her winter hair coat in late spring and early summer.

She explains the cows are scored on a 1–5 scale, where 1 is a slick summer coat and 5 is a full winter coat, with the others in between.

Why does this matter? In hot, humid environments or where endophyte‑infected fescue is common — like much of Missouri and the fescue belt — cows that hold onto their winter coat longer suffer more heat stress. Heat‑stressed cows are less likely to breed back early, produce less milk and wean lighter calves.

Research by the University of Missouri using data on about 14,000 Simmental and SimAngus cows from across the U.S. showed earlier‑shedding cows have a clear economic advantage. On the same scoring date, cows that scored a 1 (slick) weaned calves that were, on average, 45 lb. heavier than those from cows scored as 5 (full winter coat).

She emphasizes at today’s calf prices, 45 lb. of weaning weight is real money.

3. Calving Ease (CE)

Courter strongly recommends selecting bulls on calving ease EPDs, not birth weight EPD or actual birth weight. Many producers still say they want “low birth weight bulls,” especially for heifers. But what they really want is fewer difficult births. Selecting solely on birth weight often misses that goal.

Birth weight EPD simply predicts pounds of birth weight. Calving ease EPDs (direct and maternal) predict the probability of unassisted births in first‑calf heifers or their daughters.

The data show a big difference: “The correlation between birth weight and percent of unassisted births is .24,” Courter says. “If we look at the relationship between calving ease and percent of unassisted births, that genetic correlation is .9. Selection for low birth weight does not ensure calving ease. It just ensures low birth weight calves and all the problems that go along with that.”

There is also an intermediate optimum. Looking at Red Angus data, she says once calving ease direct reaches about +14, you already have roughly a 95% chance of unassisted calving in heifers. Pushing to extreme calving ease levels doesn’t buy much additional benefit and may create trade‑offs in growth and other traits.

She stresses mature cows, in particular, don’t need “heifer bull” levels of calving ease.

Her message to producers is when buying bulls and planning matings for replacements, base decisions on calving ease EPDs appropriate to heifers versus cows, not just a low-birth-weight number.

Courter’s three non‑negotiables — mature cow weight, hair shedding and calving ease — won’t tell you everything about a female, but together they provide a powerful foundation for building cows that truly fit a producer’s environment and business plan.

From there, she encourages producers to use growth, carcass and maternal EPDs — plus selection indexes and, if you choose genomic tools — to fine‑tune their cow herd toward a specific breeding objective. But remember, the goal isn’t perfection: “The perfect animal doesn’t exist, right? But we have to use the tools and the information that we have to get as close as possible.”

Cow-Calf Checklist: Start Preparing for Breeding Season

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:45:34 GMT

Each month, cow-calf producers are faced with management tasks related to seasonal and production goals. Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner summarizes the top 10 management practices producers should check off their to-do lists in March.

1. Start post-calving nutrition programs for spring-calving females.

Begin lactation rations/supplement levels or feed higher quality hay once first calving cycle is complete.
Ensure thin (BCS ≤ 4.0) females are maintaining or on an increasing plane of nutrition going into breeding.

2. As you make your bull selection decisions:

Review your past herd performance relative to your marketing and genetic goals.
Study EPDs and indexes that impact your operation profit centers and do your homework well before sale day.

3. If you will synchronize females this spring, schedule your protocols now well in advance of the breeding season and mark key dates on your calendars.

Inventory your artificial insemination (AI) supplies and order products in advance.
Check your tanks for current semen inventory and nitrogen levels.

4. If you have a fall-calving cow herd:

Schedule pregnancy checks if not already done.
Evaluate cost of gain vs. the value of gain when considering how to market fall-born calves this spring.

5. Evaluate your mineral program for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.

Work with your supplier to outline your needs.
Consider magnesium supplementation levels, particularly for lactating cows grazing wheat, rye, or triticale in the spring.

6. Evaluate herd bulls for body condition score, adjust as needed prior to breeding.

Bulls need to be in a BCS ≥ 5.0 prior to the next season of use.
Schedule breeding soundness examinations with your veterinarian well in advance of breeding.

7. Monitor replacement heifer growth and development.

Check weights help ensure growth rates are on track.
Consider tract scoring and pelvic measuring .

8. Review your calf health protocols before spring turn out.

Schedule calf working activities , mark dates on calendars.
Reflect if changes from last year are needed.

9. Take inventory of any feed/forage that will be left over from winter.

Cover piles or close bags if silage is left over and won’t be fed until fall.
Clean up any soiled bedding or unused/wasted feed in pens and calving lots to reduce the breeding and development of stable flies as the weather warms up.

10. Price risk management will be key again this year given record high calf prices.

Consider if specific price risk management strategies (forward contracting, insurance) need to be part of your operation.
Evaluate strategies for both cattle and pastures/forages.

Does Supplementing Bred Heifers Increase Calving Difficulty?

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:45:09 GMT

Producers are often told supplementing bred heifers with protein prior to calving increases calf birth weight and leads to greater calving difficulty.

According to Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist, nutrition of bred heifers during gestation does have lasting consequences for both the calf and the future productivity of the cow.

“Decades of research clearly demonstrate that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy negatively influences not only the cow’s reproductive performance, but also immune transfer, calf survival, weaning weight and post-weaning performance,” he says.

Research conducted in the 1970s at OSU compared productivity of heifers managed to achieve either adequate or obese body condition from 12 months through 5 years of age. At first calving, 58% of the obese heifers required calving assistance, compared with only 8% of heifers at adequate body condition. These data are the basis for current recommendations that heifers calve at a body condition score (BCS) of approximately 6, but not reach a fleshy (BCS 7) or obese (BCS 8) condition.

Energy and protein supply during late gestation can influence calf birth weight, Beck summarizes. Research by Corah and colleagues published in 1975 demonstrated heifers restricted to 65% of energy requirements during the final 100 days of gestation produced calves approximately 4.4 lb. lighter at birth. However, these calves experienced greater neonatal mortality and reduced weaning rates compared with calves from adequately fed dams. Importantly, lighter birth weight was not associated with reduced calving difficulty, illustrating how undernutrition compromises calf viability rather than preventing dystocia.

“Restricting nutrients prior to calving weakens both the cow and the calf, increasing calving difficulty and reducing calf survival,” Beck summarizes.

Kansas State University’s Jaymelynn Farney says restricting heifer diet in the last trimester can result in potentially lower quality and quantity of colostrum , reduced absorption of immunoglobulins from colostrum potentially driven by weaker calves that were slower to nurse, an increase in calf scours and a reduction in overall weaning weights.

Birth weight responses to precalving supplementation are highly variable. Beck evaluated changes in calf birth weight reported from 24 studies evaluating late-gestation supplementation.

“The average increase in calf birth weight was only 3 lb., with responses ranging from a 3 lb. decrease to a 10 lb. increase,” he reports. “The largest increases occurred when high levels (approximately 5 lb. per day) of energy-dense supplements were fed.”

Fifteen of these studies also reported subsequent pregnancy rates. Although variable, the average pregnancy rate of unsupplemented cows was 86%, compared with 92% for cows supplemented during late gestation, with the greatest response observed in first-calf heifers.

Excessive energy intake during late gestation partitions more nutrients toward fetal growth, resulting in larger calves. When coupled with excess fat deposition in the pelvic region, this increases the risk of dystocia. Thus, excessive energy, rather than protein supplementation alone, is the primary contributor to increased calving difficulty in many heifer programs.

Ensuring bred heifers meet — rather than greatly exceed — energy and protein requirements, promoting moderate BCS gain during mid and late gestation and strategically supplementing key nutrients improves calf survival, preweaning growth, immune function and long-term reproductive performance without increasing calving difficulty.

“Avoiding maternal undernutrition remains one of the most consistent strategies for improving whole-herd productivity and profitability,” Beck summarizes.

What Causes Calving Difficulty?

Farney says there are multiple reasons calving difficulty can occur, which may include the calf being too big, pelvis too small, abnormal presentation, lack of uterine contractions, fatigue or twins.

“Abnormal presentations cannot be eliminated by genetic selection or nutritional management, so be prepared for these scenarios a minimum of three weeks before your first calf is expected,” says Farney, a beef systems specialist.

Calf birth weight is often blamed as the sole culprit of calving issues.

“Calf birth weight can be affected by several factors — genetics, gestation length and, to an extent, dam nutrition,” Farney summarizes. “High calving ease sires typically have a shortened gestation length, hence the reason that most of those calves are a bit lighter in weight.”

She says on average, calves will gain between 1.5 lb. to 2 lb. of body weight in late gestation. For example, if the average gestation length is 283 days and a calf is born a week early, it will often weigh 10 lb. to 14 lb. less.

She adds dams that experience cold stress in the last trimester may have calves that are heavier in weight.

“Typically birth weights are greater for calves born in the spring or winter as compared to fall-born counterparts,” she says. “A Nebraska study that evaluated six years of data found for each 1° F lower than the average winter temperature (December through February) calf birth weight increased 1 lb.”

The increase in birth weight is most likely due to the needed increase in nutrient flux through supplementation to offset cold stress events.

“Now you might think, it is a cold winter and I do not want to deal with calving problems, so I will just make that cow survive on the same diet she has been on and not account for added maintenance requirements due to cold stress,” Farney says. “That thought will lead to a plethora of other issues that can extend through that calf’s entire productive life.”

She stresses it is important to appropriately balance a diet for first-calf heifers.

“Don’t starve the calving difficulty out of your heifers,” Farney summarizes. “These heifers need appropriate energy to help with the birthing process or they will quit on you as they just run out of steam going through parturition. Additionally, the calves need enough energy to quickly get up and nurse, and if dam energy is restricted, calves will be lethargic. Proteins are essential for colostrum quality, which has major lifetime effects on that calf.”

Your Next Read: Feeding at Dusk: How Does This Affect Calving Times?

Rebuilding the Herd From the Cow Up

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:25:43 GMT

In cow-calf systems, many of the factors that determine productivity, fertility and longevity are set long before a replacement heifer ever enters the breeding pasture. The biological foundation of the cow is shaped in utero through the interaction of genetics, nutrition and environmental conditions. Those early influences follow her for life.

This was the topic of discussion during a joint presentation by Ron Scott, director of beef technical innovation at Purina, and George Parry, research professor of beef cattle reproductive physiology at Texas A&M, during CattleCon.

“We’re talking about rebuilding the cow herd, how it’s going to impact future replacement health,” began Scott, speaking on the epigenetics of heifer development. “The biggest thing we need to remember is that life really shapes the animal. It’s the environment, it’s the nutrition, it’s the genetics. All of that comes together to impact how that animal is going to perform.”

Reproductive traits offer a clear example of how the environment affects performance. While genetics matter, reproductive performance becomes less heritable as animals age because management and environment increasingly shape outcomes. Traits measured early, such as ovarian follicle number or age at puberty, are more strongly tied to inherent potential because outside influences have not yet accumulated.

Identical genetics alone do not guarantee identical performance. Animals with the same genetic makeup can diverge dramatically depending on how their genetic potential is expressed. That process begins before birth.

Fetal Development Sets Reproductive Capacity

“For that first month of life, that embryo lives totally on what’s being secreted into the environment. It’s not attached to the uterus to draw the nutrients it needs,” Parry explains. “It’s really dependent on what we’re supplying it. So what happens when we change that supply?”

Nutritional changes around breeding and early pregnancy can affect embryo survival, developmental rate and long-term function. Even when embryos survive short-term nutritional restriction, their development may already be altered.

Speaking about recent research, Parry emphasized the importance of a constant nutrient supply.

“If we drop nutritional supply at AI for as short as six days, we impact the stage of embryo development. We impact embryo quality,” he says.

One of the most critical developmental outcomes affected during gestation is ovarian reserve. Germ cells migrate and form the future ovary early in pregnancy, and the population of follicles expands and then declines before birth.

“The ovarian reserve that follows that ovary of your future replacement heifer is really impacted while that calf is in utero,” Parry says.

The number of follicles a heifer carries into life — the foundation of her reproductive capacity — is largely determined before she is born.

Importantly, these changes are not obvious at birth. Calves may look identical at birth and weaning, yet differ significantly later in reproductive performance. Heifers that experienced more favorable fetal nutrition are more likely to calve earlier in their first season, a difference that compounds across their lifetime.

Early Conception Compounds Herd Profitability

Heifers that conceive and calve early tend to remain earlier in subsequent breeding seasons. Over time, this translates into more calves, more total pounds weaned and longer productive lives. Each missed estrous cycle pushes a cow later in the calving season, resulting in lighter calves and increasing the likelihood of eventual culling.

This also impacts the bottom line.

“At $4 calves, every heat cycle you miss is worth $150”, Scott says.

Late conception often becomes a repeating pattern rather than a one-time event. Once cows fall behind, it is difficult to move them forward without intervention. Over multiple years, this drift erodes herd productivity and profitability.

Nutrition Must Be Consistent, Not Reactive

One of the strongest drivers of developmental programming is consistent maternal nutrition. Cows prioritize nutrients toward maintenance and survival first, followed by growth and lactation. Reproduction falls lower on that hierarchy. When nutrients are limited, reproductive processes and fetal development may be compromised.

“Think about consistent nutrition. That’s how you optimize,” Scott says.

Body condition score is the most practical indicator of nutritional adequacy. Gradual weight loss is difficult to detect visually, especially when cows are observed daily. Regular body condition scoring and documentation are essential for identifying trends before they become biologically costly.

Stress compounds nutritional effects. Cold weather, poor forage conditions, social pressure or environmental stressors add to the nutrient demands placed on the cow. Nutrition cannot fully offset stress, but inadequate nutrition magnifies its impact.

Heifers Require Different Management

First-calf heifers face unique challenges. They are still growing while simultaneously lactating and preparing to breed again. Treating them nutritionally like mature cows often leads to lower body condition, delayed cycling and late conception.

“Rethink heifer management. Focus on first service because of selection and conception. We need to optimize field programming,” Scott advises.

Managing heifers as a distinct group separate from mature cows allows nutrition and management to better match physiological demand. Without this adjustment, even genetically superior heifers are at risk of early failure.

Key Considerations When Selecting Replacement Heifers

Selecting replacements based solely on size or appearance at weaning overlooks critical developmental signals. Both Parry and Scott agree effective replacement selection should consider:

Calving timing: Heifers born early in the calving season are more likely to conceive early and remain productive longer
Developmental history: Maternal nutrition and stress exposure during gestation influence lifetime fertility
Growth pattern: Consistent, adequate growth is more important than compensatory gain
Body condition at breeding: Heifers must enter breeding with sufficient reserves to support cycling and conception
Reproductive readiness: Reproductive tract maturity provides insight into breeding potential
Longevity potential: Early-conceiving heifers are more likely to stay in the herd and repay development costs

Longevity is a Management Outcome

“To break even and realize the benefits of fetal programming, cows need to remain in the herd. It really starts with heifer development,” Scott says.

Longevity is not accidental. It reflects the cumulative effects of early development, nutrition, reproductive success and stress management. Developmental programming establishes the foundation, but realizing that potential requires keeping cows healthy, fertile and in the herd long enough to return value.

Putting the cow first — starting before birth — shifts herd improvement from short-term correction to long-term strategy. When early development is supported and replacement selection reinforces those advantages, productivity and profitability follow.

Cattle on Feed Suggests Continuing Tight Supplies and Limited Heifer Retention

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:05:25 GMT

USDA released the January Cattle on Feed report on Friday, Jan. 23. These monthly reports estimate on-feed inventories for feedlots with capacity over 1,000 head, which represents more than 80% of total on-feed inventory in the U.S. As of Jan. 1, total on-feed inventory was estimated at 11.45 million head, which was down more than 3% from Jan. 1, 2025.

(USDA-NASS, Livestock Marketing Information Center)

Low domestic cattle inventory, combined with the ban on live cattle imports from Mexico, continue to keep cattle supplies tight. On-feed inventory has been running below year-ago levels since fall of 2024, and this was the largest year-over-year decline since that time.

Placements were the headliner of the report, and this has largely been the case for the last year. The number of cattle placed on feed during December of 2025 was down by more than 5% compared to December of 2024. This was largely anticipated, and the placement number came in at the upper end of a very wide range of pre-report estimates, but the number is still significant.

(USDA-NASS, Compiled by Livestock Marketing Information Center)

We were not importing live cattle from Mexico in December of 2024, so the 5% decrease is from a low baseline the previous year. December marketings were up 1.7% year-over-year, which was very close to pre-report estimates.

Nebraska continues to be the state with the largest number of cattle on feed, while Texas would be second. This shift has occurred due to the continued ban on cattle imports from Mexico.

(USDA-NASS, Compiled by Livestock Marketing Information Center)

Friday’s report also included an estimate of the steer/heifer breakdown. The number of heifers on feed provides an indication of heifer retention, so analysts have been watching this number closely. In Friday’s report, both steers and heifers on feed were down roughly 3% from January 2025. As a percentage of total on-feed inventory, heifers accounted for 38.7%. This is about 0.6% higher than Oct. 1 and virtually unchanged from last January. This suggests relatively low levels of heifer retention at present.

More will be known about heifer retention and many other trends when USDA releases the January cattle inventory report on January 30. During 2025, beef cow slaughter was down by more than 500,000 head. For that reason alone, a small increase in beef cow numbers would seem likely. And while heifer retention does not appear to be occurring at a large scale, a small increase in the number of heifers held for beef cow replacement would not be surprising. Still, the pace of beef cow herd expansion in the coming years is likely to be slower than past cattle cycles.

Your Next Read: Cattle Rally on Higher Cash, Trumping COF: Tightest Numbers Ahead

There’s a Lot of Info in That Little TSU

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:22:45 GMT

“The sky’s the limit if you have that sample,” says Jim Butcher, a Simmental seedstock producer from Lewistown, Mont.

He’s talking about all the things you can learn about the genetic potential of your cattle that is contained in a tissue sampling unit (TSU). The genomic information you get from each sample can, collectively and individually, help you more quickly move your herd’s genetic progress forward in an intentional, science-assisted direction.

There’s lots of info in that little vial.

(Allflex)

For commercial cow-calf producers, submitting the DNA sample in a TSU will return a scoresheet on each animal ‘s genetic merit for different indexes and specific traits, says Leoma Donsbach, owner and founder of Data Genie, LLC.

She calls herself a data accountant, helping customers attach the data on their operation to their record-keeping system. She says almost all her customers use TSUs to collect DNA and obtain genomic data.

Genomics are becoming more and more popular with commercial beef producers, she says.

“For replacement females, the ability to have a snapshot of that female’s genetic potential leads to increased confidence in keeping that heifer. You can say, ‘This heifer is more likely to be here until age six or seven by looking at her stayability metrics.’”

Say, for example, you’ve done your visual appraisal and picked 50 heifers as potential replacements, but you only need to keep 40. Visually, those heifers are very similar. But genetically, they could be very different, depending on what genes they received from their parents.

That’s where the TSUs and the genomic data they provide come in. First, test all 50 replacement candidates.

“Then breed them and find out which ones are bred,” she says. Even if everything went right, that still leaves some extras. “You can go back and use the genomic data to select the traits you want and/or use a maternal or terminal index to make those final decisions. You use it like comparing genomically enhanced EPDs when buying bulls.”

Beyond replacement selection, you can extrapolate the DNA data on your heifers when marketing your steers, she says. “On average, your steers will have similar genetics to your heifers. That information may add to their sale price.”

Then There Are The Bulls

Just like heifers, bulls can be full siblings and still be remarkably different in their genetic makeup.

“We’re great phenotype collectors of birth weights, weaning weights, all that,” Butcher says. “But you really don’t know what you have until you know what genes that particular animal picked up.”

When seedstock producers send in a TSU, they get back genomically enhanced EPDs. That, Butcher says, allows him to supply more accurate information about young bulls for his customers and help them make the best bull-buying decisions they can within their budget.

Indeed, not every bull is suited for every ranch. Studying the genomically enhanced EPDs gives you greater confidence in the true genetic potential of young bulls.

“You lessen the probabilities that you’re buying an animal that won’t help you move your program forward,” Butcher says.

Your Next Read: Building the Next Generation Cow Herd Using Genomic Testing

When Is the Best Time to Wean?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:13:27 GMT

If conditions warrant, now might be the time to start thinking about weaning for spring calving herds. But weaning strategies are not one plan fits all, and what your neighbor does might not be the best decision for your herd.

The average suggested weaning age is 205 days. Four beef cattle extension specialists discuss the factors to consider if early weaning is the best option.

“Early weaning can be one of the most effective management strategies from both a grass/forage and cow nutrition standpoint,” says Jason Warner, Kansas State University extension cow-calf specialist.

According to Ron Lemenager, Purdue University beef specialist, the earliest recommended age for weaning a beef calf is between 60 days to 80 days, with 70 days being a common benchmark to ensure calves have a functioning rumen.

“When you wean at less than 70 days of age, the chances of having that calf turn out to be a little, potbellied orphan-looking calf goes up,” he says.

Warner adds weaning 60-to-90-day-old calves requires good, tight facilities to keep them in and feed bunks and watering troughs that the calves can reach.

Lemenager explains the decision to early wean is based on two things:

Feed resources: the kind of quality and quantity of feed.
Body condition of the cows.

John Hall, University of Idaho extension beef specialist, says there are two age ranges for early weaning. Very early weaning is weaning calves at 90 days prior to the breeding season. Producers can use this strategy to try and induce cycles in thin cows. He says calves weaned this early will require a unique management plan.

He describes early weaning as when the calf is between 150 days to 180 days of age.

“The nice thing about that 5-month-old calf is it’s only getting about 30% of its nutrition from the dam,” Hall explains. “So, making the switch when the calf is already used to eating a lot of forage is ideal.”

Megan Van Emon, Montana State University extension beef cattle specialist, encourages producers to plan to make sure the weaning process — no matter how the age of calf — goes smoothly.

“The earlier you can make the decision, the better,” she says. “Not only for the producer, but also for those calves to be prepared.”

Four Factors to Consider

The specialists share these points to aid in your early weaning decision:

Pasture and Forage Conditions
Drought is the primary trigger for early weaning. All four specialists encourage producers to assess pasture conditions, rainfall patterns and forage availability. If pastures are short and producers are concerned about overgrazing, then early weaning should be considered.

“In times of reduced forage availability — primarily drought — early weaning should be considered as a method to preserve the forage base by removing the forage demand from the calf and also reducing forage intake by the cow,” Warner says.

Van Emon explains the “take half, leave half” grazing principle becomes difficult when grass is only 3" to 4" tall, emphasizing the need to leave enough root reserves for future grazing.

Most of the research data suggests that for every two to two-and-a-half days that a calf is weaned, there is one more day of available forage for grazing for the dry cow.

“We can conservatively save or extend our forage resources by a third,” Lemenager explains. “Cow forage intake goes down and calf consumption of forage is eliminated in that grazing environment.”
Cow Body Condition
Hall says if cows are at a body condition score (BCS) 4 or lower by mid-summer, they’re in nutritional trouble and it’s likely their calves are not doing well in terms of growth rate either.

Early weaning removes the lactation demands, which will allow the cow to start regaining condition before winter. Lemenager also suggests early weaning can help reduce winter supplementation needs.

Lemenager and his family also have a cow herd in Indiana. They typically wean at about 6 months of age.

“That gives me an extra month of cows being able to pick up some body condition before the winter,” he explains.

Van Emon says research predicts for every two weeks earlier you wean, a cow will gain about a tenth of a body condition score.
Feed Resources Available for Newly Weaned Calves
It is important to have high-quality feed available for early weaned calves, as they require better nutrition for continued growth. Hall recommends producers work with a nutrition consultant or other extension specialist to create a nutrition plan for the newly weaned calves.
Facilities and Labor
Early weaning requires appropriate facilities with secure fencing and can require additional labor. Van Emon encourages producers to consider if they have the resources available to manage early weaning effectively.

Hall reminds producers the primary goal of early weaning is to maintain or improve cow condition and stretch limited forage supplies while supporting calf growth.

By carefully evaluating the factors suggested by the extension specialists and implementing proper management strategies, you can make early weaning a successful part of your operation when conditions warrant the strategy.

Your Next Read: Step-by-Step Weaning: How to Choose the Best Method

Creep Feeding: Will it Pay Off?

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:18:59 GMT

To creep feed or not to creep feed. That is the question many ranchers ask themselves during the summer. Feed of any kind is always an added input, so what should ranchers consider to ensure this practice is profitable? Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University professor of animal and food sciences, shares several creep feeding pointers in the recent episode of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast .

Before you can determine if a practice is profitable, you must first ask yourself the purpose of the practice.

“The bottom line of creep feeding is to put additional weight on calves through additional nutritional resources that only the calves have access to,” Johnson says.

This is done by providing feed to calves that their mothers do not have access to.

A secondary benefit to creep feeding is that it acts as a pre-weaning aid. Calves become used to eating out of a feeder, which will reduce stress and offer some familiarity in diet and routine once weaning comes around.

Creep feeding doesn’t come without its challenges either. The practice requires additional equipment to provide the feed and producers need to be cognizant of reducing spoilage, keeping feed fresh and that rodents can help themselves to the ration as well.

Once producers weigh the pros and cons, it’s time to pencil out the cost of gain.

“Historically, when we looked at research data we did not find it cost effective when comparing cost of gain to the value of a weaned calf. Now, the current cattle market we are in is a game changer,” Johnson says.

Creep feeding is a practice he pencils out for his own cattle each year to determine if it financially makes sense.

“We were putting gain on for far less than the gain was worth and were simultaneously experiencing a drought. It penciled out for us last year,” he says.

One consideration sometimes forgotten about is that not all added weight on calves is created equally.

“In some cases that additional weight results in over conditioning, which results in a discount in the marketplace,” Johnson explains.

If creep feeding does pencil out for ranchers, they should consider the quality of their grass and age of their calves when deciding the ideal protein and energy levels of the feed. The length of the feeding period should also be factored.

Johnson says, “You can creep feed one to two months prior to weaning and can see adequate benefit compared to feeding for extended periods.”

If creep feeding doesn’t look like a profitable practice but producers still want to provide calves with feed that their mothers don’t have access to, creep grazing is another option to consider.

“If there is the possibility to have an area of pasture that only calves have access to, you can also get an effective cost of gain,” Johnson says.

Remember that only you can determine what is profitable for your operation and that input and cattle prices vary from year to year.

“One of the things I love about the beef industry is that we raise cattle in a variety of production environments and nothing is a one-size-fits-all practice,” Johnson says. “So, I encourage people to put pen and paper to their practices to see what works for them.”

Your next read: Protecting Your Profits With Price Insurance

Cow Herd Scorecard: Evaluating Performance Post Calving

Wed, 14 May 2025 14:27:24 GMT

Tracking performance and evaluating herd success is a year-round process. Similar to tracking athletes, consider developing a scorecard to monitor your herd.

Understanding how your herd is performing throughout the year is important when considering management, nutrition and culling decisions.

For spring-calving herds, now is the time to evaluate and review calving success and failures.

“This is a good time of year to review your records, and if the numbers aren’t where you want them to be, you can make management adjustments under the guidance of your veterinarian, nutritionist or another adviser,” says Jason Warner, Kansas State University cow-calf Extension specialist. Warner was a guest during a recent K-State Beef Cattle Institute Podcast .

A herd’s postcalving scorecard should include:

pregnancy percentages
death loss
calving ease/calving complications – prolapse or retained placenta
udder scores
body condition score
mothering ability and disposition
calving interval

Two areas Warner tells producers to focus on are the number of live calves born compared to the number of cows exposed to bulls at the start of the breeding season; and the number of cows that became pregnant early in the breeding season.

A top priority for Bob Larson, K-State veterinarian, is to have calves born early in the calving season.

“The goal is to have 65% of the calves born in the first 21 days, and 85% to 90% of the calves born within the first 42 days of the season,” Larson say. “If that happens, I know that the cows were in good body condition at the start of the breeding season and the bulls were fertile.”

Larson references USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring Service (NAHMS) for national averages on abortion and calf death loss.

“The national average is between 1% to 2% for calf death loss and that will vary from year to year within the same operation,” Larson said. “If the producer is calving out a high percentage of heifers, that can influence the calf death loss percentage.”

Scorecard Prep
Ron Lemenager, Purdue professor and beef Extension specialist, suggests producers consider creating a spreadsheet to calculate important percentages, prior to filling out their postcalving scorecard.

He encourages producers record and monitor these numbers each calving season:

Number of cows exposed
Number of cows pregnant
Number of cows pregnant / Number of cows exposed = % Pregnant
Number of pregnant cows kept to calve
Number of cows that calved
Number of cows that calved / Number of pregnant cows kept to calve = % Calving
Number of Live Calves
Number of Live Calves /Number of cows that calved = % live calves born
Number of live calves after one month
Number of difficult or assisted birth (dystocia, prolapse)
Number of cows with bad udders
Number of cows BCS 5 or 6
Number of cows with poor disposition and poor mothering ability
Number of cows that calved in the first 21 days
Number of cows that calved in the second 21 days
Number of cows that calved in the third 21 days
Number of cows that calved after 63 days

Lemenager explains using the spreadsheet to calculate the percentages can help producers identify specific problem areas in their calving and breeding processes and allows them to troubleshoot their herd’s breeding performance.

“Tracking herd performance allows producers to zero in on their problems and determine what issues are really facing the herd,” he summarizes.

Understanding the challenges facing a cow herd can help producers determine what nutrition or management strategies can be used to improve their herd’s postcalving scorecard in future years.

Your Next Read: Spring Cattle Processing Tips to Enhance Herd Health and Diminish Stress

BVDV: A Threat The Beef Industry Can’t Afford to Ignore

Tue, 06 May 2025 19:43:33 GMT

Some veterinarians and producers think of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in narrow terms – as the virus that causes persistently infected (PI) cattle. And while that perspective is correct, Dr. Thomas Passler, DVM, PhD, says there are broader implications for BVDV and its impact on cattle and some other animal species worldwide.

“(BVDV) has evolved over the years and is not a single virus or just a diarrhea-causing problem. Today it’s made up of three related viruses and 19 subtypes that cause similar diseases,” explains Passler, the Jack Rash professor of internal medicine for food animal medicine at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“It’s a sneaky, insidious disease,” he adds.

Passler estimates 0.5% of U.S. cattle are persistently infected by BVDV. Of that percentage, only a small number of those animals become PI cattle – a result of infection caused during fetal development between 40 and 125 days of gestation and which persists during the animal’s entire life.

The PI problem differs from transient infection (TI), which occurs when an animal becomes infected after birth. A TI animal is infected temporarily, but during that time is capable of shedding the virus and transmitting it to other herd members or pen mates.

Multiple Health Issues And Losses Across Species
BVDV-positive animals, especially PI cattle, significantly impact U.S. herds by causing immunosuppression, weakening immune systems and making herd mates more susceptible to other infections. Passler says that immunosuppression often manifests as increased calf death losses from diseases such as scours and pneumonia, as well as poor weaning weights.

Passler adds that he has seen similar problems from BVDV in other animal species, including hogs, white-tailed deer, alpacas and goats.

BVDV is one of the costliest bovine diseases for beef producers and dairy producers, as well. Losses average between $15 to $88 per head, conservatively, according to Indexx Laboratories , citing older data from 2002 and 2008.^1-3

Despite the associated costs, a 2017 National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) study of 75 U.S. cow-calf producers (the summary was released in 2023) reported only 57.5% of participating producers said they knew some basics or were fairly knowledgeable about BVDV. In addition, 26.9% of producers said they “recognized the name but not much else,” and 15.3% of respondents said they had never heard of it (see Figures 1 and 2).

Furthermore, most BVDV infection problems in cattle herds go unnoticed since 70% to 90% of BVD infections are subclinical (do not result in observable disease), according to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory .

The Beef 2017 study was conducted in 24 of the nation’s major cow-calf States. In 2017, operations in these states accounted for 86.6 percent of the U.S. beef cow inventory and 78.9 percent of all U.S. operations with beef cows.

(NAHMS)

Only 24.4% of the cattlemen surveyed said they are “fairly knowledgeable” about BVDV.

(NAHMS)

Contributing Factors To PI Cattle
Direct contact with infected animals and with contaminated fomites (water buckets, calf feeders, feed bunks, IV equipment, etc.) are common ways BVDV gains a foothold in a herd.

One risk factor that often flies under the radar is the use of intranasal vaccines that do not address BVD viruses, reports Dr. Dan Thomson, PAC veterinarian and Iowa State University professor emeritus.

“We’re using a lot more intranasal vaccinations, thinking that we’re covering for BVDV when we’re actually not,” says Thomson, who spoke with Passler recently on an episode of DocTalk.

It’s a perspective Passler says he agrees with. “We see mucosal disease in the clinic – something we shouldn’t be seeing at all – and often from herds that vaccinate,” he adds.

Intranasal vaccines for respiratory disease do not currently contain BVDV Type 1 & 2, so a separate injectable BVDV vaccine is required, according to Craig A. Payne, DVM, and Celeste Morris, DVM, respectively, at the University of Missouri. Payne and Morris discuss this contributing factor further in their online article, Vaccination Program for a Cow-Calf Operation .

Key Into The Correct Timing To Test Calves
Payne and Morris recommend that “because PI animals are so detrimental, the standard recommendation in herds where BVDV is suspected is to implement a testing strategy and remove any PI animals detected. Vaccination alone cannot counter the effects PI animals can have.”

Specific to calves, Passler says it’s important for veterinarians to let producers know the timing of the testing can impact results – maternal antibodies can skew the results.

“Either test the calf as soon as it hits the ground, before it can nurse, or wait at least a week or [even up to] a month later,” he advises.

He encourages practitioners to talk with cow-calf producers about testing calves to identify BVDV.

“A lot of people don’t test until those animals are stockers or going to the feedlot, and that’s too late,” Passler says. “We want producers to test earlier so they can remove PI cattle sooner.”

Evaluate Vaccines And Protocols
There are two main types of vaccines for BVDV: modified-live (attenuated) and killed (inactivated).

The most significant value for beef producers in using a vaccine that addresses BVDV is being able to protect a dam’s fetus, Passler says. But no vaccine is perfect, he adds, noting producers must also be diligent with their management practices.

“What we have seen here in the clinic is that even in well-vaccinated herds – those we know use killed vaccines religiously – they still get PI cattle if they’re not careful about biosecurity,” he says. “These might be herds that religiously vaccinate, but they still go to the stockyards and buy replacements or take some other sort of risk.”

As for vaccine use protocols, Passler says his review of other researchers’ work indicates it’s best if producers use at least one modified live vaccine and then an inactive (killed) vaccine to vaccinate cows and heifers.

“I’d probably [vaccinate] two cycles and well before gestation, because vaccine seems to reduce fertility a little bit,” he says. “Some researchers say 42 days in advance [of gestation] is a good number to use”

Another practice Passler advises is using products from more than one manufacturer. “Different manufacturers use different vaccine strain viruses, so you might increase endogenic exposure,” he explains.

Thomson supports that recommendation. “We do that when we deworm, we do it with how we treat bacteria, so why wouldn’t we do that to prevent BVDV? That’s great advice,” he says.

Your next read: Can Oxytocin Boost Colostrum?

References

1. Bartlett B, Grooms D. BVD-PI eradication: unintended consequences. Michigan Dairy Review. 2008;13(3).

2. Chi J, VanLeeuwen JA, Weersink A, Keefe GP. Direct production losses and treatment costs from bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine leukosis virus, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, and Neospora caninum. Prev Vet Med. 2002;55(2):137–153. doi:10.1016/s0167-5877(02)00094-6

3. Ridpath J. Why BVD is a tough problem. Hoard’s Dairyman. 2002;147:697.

More Than Annoyance: Flies Can Impact Health and Profits

Tue, 06 May 2025 15:16:34 GMT

With fly season approaching, now is the time to evaluate and refine your fly management plan for 2025.

“If your 2024 control efforts underperformed, consider adjusting your approach,” says David Boxler, Nebraska Extension livestock entomologist. “The best control method will depend on several factors including efficacy, cost, convenience and your current herd management practices.”

He also reminds producers that horn flies can migrate from neighboring untreated herds, masking the effectiveness of your efforts and increasing fly pressure. For this reason, Boxer recommends a comprehensive, integrated fly control.

The horn fly is one of the most damaging pests of pasture and rangeland cattle across the U.S., Boxler says in a recent “ UNL Beef Watch .”

“Adult horn flies are blood-feeding insects that take an average of 30 blood meals per day,” he says. “Their populations can build rapidly and often exceed the Economic Injury Level defined as 200 flies per animal. Once fly numbers surpass this threshold, cattle experience reduced weight gain and milk production due to fly-induced stress and altered grazing behavior.”

Observing your cattle during summer months is key to detecting fly pressure. Boxler asks, “Are they constantly tossing their heads, swishing their tails or twitching their skin?”

These signs of fly irritation indicate a more effective control strategy might be needed.

“If you are seeing flies, ticks, lice or insect damage to your cattle herd, we know there is an economic impact; however, that impact can become far greater than production or weight gain loss alone,” says Ashby Green, DVM, Neogen senior technical services veterinarian. “Insect pressure affects grazing patterns of cattle, it affects their comfort and it can lead to health issues. Some of those health issues can be definite, such as anaplasmosis.”

The vectors responsible for spreading anaplasmosis include horse flies, stable flies and ticks. This condition has been reported in most states across the U.S., while the disease has been recognized as endemic throughout the South and several Midwestern and Western states.

“With horn flies, we’re looking at mastitis risk, so that’s going to impact both dairy cattle and also our cow-calf operations,” says Jonathan Cammack, Oklahoma State University assistant professor and state extension specialist. “A lot of times, horn flies will feed on the udders of the animals, and they transfer the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria because they land on the manure, then they go back to the animal to feed and bring those bacteria with them.”

Several other conditions are propagated by flies or ticks, including pinkeye, which can be spread by face flies and causes inflammation and ulceration of the eyes. Pinkeye-affected calves are, on average, 35 lb. to 40 lb. lighter at weaning compared to healthy calves, according to a University of Kentucky report.

Cammack says that due to flies, “We’re looking at probably $6 billion in losses annually to U.S. cattle production, and that encompasses everything from actual loss in production due to decreased weight gain or decreased milk production, veterinary needs associated with treatment of cattle with exposure to pathogens from some of these insects, and then also the control measures associated with managing those individual fly species.”

Ticks present economic risks as well. Cammack says that during a 100-day growing period producers can see a decrease in total weight gain in calves by about 20 lb. For stockers, over that same 100-day period during the summer months, they can experience a decrease in weight gain by about 60 lb.

“With what current prices are, 60 lb. could translate to a significant amount of money returned when we’re talking about the few dollars that it might cost for some tick control,” he says.

(Neogen)

Controlling flies and insects: Tips to implement
Now is the time to take steps to control flies and ticks, as populations emerge with the warmer weather.

In “ Stopping Flies in 2025: Tips to Battle These Economic Pests ,” Cassandra Olds, Kansas State University Extension entomologist, shares four steps to controlling flies

Know what flies you’re dealing with.
Reduce populations.
Eliminate breeding grounds.
Consider chemical control options.

Similar to Olds, Green recommends using a multi-pronged approach to insect control. Fly tags, feed-through insect growth regulator (IGR) products, pour-ons, back rubbers and dust bags can help diminish the population. A pour-on with an IGR destroys the larval development in flies and greatly reduces the fly population. For ultimate control using a pour-on, look to a unique combination of actives within one solution that includes an IGR, an adulticide, and a synergist that supplies relief to cattle from infestations and provides producers with a reliable solution that helps minimize handling, time and labor costs.

“Both back rubbers and dust bags can be highly effective if managed correctly. Keep in mind, when these are put out to withstand the elements, including moisture and rain, it’s key to keep the dust fresh or the oil recharged in your back rubbers. Otherwise, they will diminish in their ability to control flies quickly,” Green advises.

Cammack stresses the importance of accurate dosing by the individual animal’s weight and following label guidelines.

To best control flies and insects on cattle operations, “the easy and effective way is the best way,” Green summarizes. “It’s up to you and with the help of your veterinarian to help create that combination.”

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Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Thu, 01 May 2025 11:23:00 GMT

Reducing stress during livestock handling can increase productivity, maintain or improve meat quality, reduce sickness and enhance animal welfare. Implementing low-stress handling techniques when working with cattle is important to reducing stress.

As producers prepare for spring processing, Beth McIlquham, University of Wisconsin-Madison regional livestock educator, encourages producers to consider these low-stress handling strategies.

“While temperament in cattle is moderately heritable, environment does play a role and even cattle that are less docile will benefit from low-stress handling methods,” Mcllquham says. “A good handler can help reduce fear in an animal, which is the primary driver of negative consequences associated with handling stress.”

Even if the animal is not experiencing any pain, fear can still cause physical responses in the body, such as high cortisol levels. These responses can ultimately lead to increased susceptibility to illness, lower meat quality and overall lower performance.

Mcllquham says one negative handling experiences can affect future handling situations.

Identifying stress through body language
Cattle in a state of fear or under stress can be identified through their body language. Obvious signs of fear in cattle are running, kicking, vocalizing and aggressive behaviors toward handlers. Subtle signs of fear are heavy breathing and showing the whites of their eyes. Stressed cattle can cause serious injury to themselves and humans. Relaxed cattle are quiet and walk or trot calmly. When low-stress handling techniques are used, the risk of injury is lowered.

“Besides increasing performance and lowering sickness and injury rates, consumers have indicated that they care that their food is humanely raised,” McIlquham explains. “Implementing low-stress handling is a great place to start and comes with many other benefits. Although it may sound like a daunting task, utilizing low-stress handling techniques can be done in smaller steps.”

Step 1: Put away the electric prod
“Our first step is to put away the electric prod,” she says. “To decrease use, place electric prods away from where you’re handling cattle but still be accessible in an emergency. This way, instead of instinctively reaching for it, the inconvenience of going to grab it can decrease electric prod use.”

Step 2: Understand cattle’s natural instincts
“We should utilize these instincts to work for us instead of against us,” she says. “The fact that cattle are prey animals drives a lot of their behaviors.”

Cattle are herd animals and like to be in groups. When moving them, keeping cattle in small groups (two to five head) can help keep them calmer and easier to handle. Additionally, cattle want to see you. Humans are naturally predators, and because cattle are prey animals, their instinct is to be able to keep handlers in sight.

Cattle want to go toward lighted areas and will resist going into darker areas. It is easier to see any potential threats in areas that are light. Keep in mind shadows can reduce cattle flow through an area.

Step 3: Study and use cattle’s natural flight zone
Good handlers study and use cattle’s flight zone and point of balance, McIlquham explains.

Two concepts are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Flight Zone and Point of Balance

(Beef Quality Assurance Cattle Care & Handling Guides)

Walking into the flight zone makes the animal move away from the handler. Stepping out of the flight zone will take pressure off and remove the animal’s desire to continue to move away. Note that the size of flight zones varies between animals. The point of balance allows handlers to move the animal forward or backward. Stepping into the flight zone in front of the point of balance will make the animal move backward. Stepping into the flight zone behind the point of balance will drive the animal forward.

Keep in mind cattle have a blind spot directly behind them. If you approach the animal in the blind spot, they could get spooked. Walking in a zigzag pattern behind cattle helps let them know you are there.

Extra tip: Taking breaks
Calm cattle are easier to move than stressed cattle. Fearful cattle are more reactive, more easily injured, and more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors. If a handling situation does get intense, take a little break and release pressure on the cattle.

“Even taking a brief break can help both the animal and handler calm down and come back to the situation in a more positive light,” Mcllquham summarizes.

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Monitor Heifer Nutrition When Transitioning from Dry Lot to Pasture

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:48:02 GMT

Heifer development guidelines recommend development to promote the early onset of puberty and to develop heifers to a target body weight at the time of breeding. However, research indicates that nutritional status during the first 21 days of the breeding season may be as important as prebreeding. Heifers who gain weight during the first 21 days of the breeding season have been shown to have increased conception compared to heifers who lose weight during this timeframe.

Research from South Dakota State University found negative implications on embryonic development and survival when heifers are transitioned to a reduced gain diet directly after AI breeding. This should be considered when transitioning heifers from a dry lot to pasture, as this transition can cause changes in body weight and composition just before or at the initiation of the breeding season.

In a recent heifer development study conducted at Iowa State University’s McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm, the pregnancy rates of heifers in two dietary groups were compared: a restricted group, developed to 55% of their mature body weight at breeding, and a non-restricted group, developed to 65% of their mature body weight at breeding. Due to 2023 drought conditions, heifers in the restricted group were developed on a lower energy diet in a larger pen area until adequate pasture growth for turn out 3 weeks before AI breeding. Heifers in the non-restricted group were developed in standard dry lot conditions until breeding. After AI breeding, all heifers were managed as one group on pasture.

Body weight and condition changes were collected using carcass ultrasound measurements before breeding and at the final pregnancy ultrasound diagnosis, thirty days following a 45-day breeding season.

Figure 1 shows the change in body weight and carcass ultrasound measurements for ribeye area (REA), backfat (BFAT), rump fat (RUMP), and intramuscular fat (IMF) taken in May before AI breeding and in September at the final pregnancy determination. On average, the non-restricted group lost weight while managed on pasture compared to the restricted group who continued to gain weight.

Both groups, on average, lost condition for REA, BFAT and RUMP measurements, with this decrease being larger in the non-restricted group. Interestingly, both groups continued to gain IMF while on pasture. Pregnancy results from this study found that final heifer pregnancy rates (AI bred and natural service bred) did not differ between the two groups. Numerically, more in the non-restricted group were bred by AI compared to the restricted group, but this difference was not statistically significant.

These results highlight the importance of developing heifers based on the specific management practices and goals of a cow-calf operation. Developing heifers to higher body weights resulted in more AI bred, but these heifers lost more body condition when transitioned to pasture management.

The total number of bred heifers did not differ between the groups. Developing heifers to lower body weights resulted in less extreme body condition loss when transitioned to pasture, continued weight gain, and saved $76 per head in feed costs. Final pregnancy rates did not differ between the two dietary groups. When determining the optimal body weight to breed heifers, nutritional availability and operational goals should be considered to maximize reproductive rates and operational profitability.

Your Next Read: Developing Heifers: Expectations for the Next Generation

Calving Tips: Dealing with Protective Moms

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:48:26 GMT

As spring calving season continues, producers continue to monitor and assist when needed as their next calf crop hits the ground. Dealing with protective moms can be a challenging situation, two industry leaders and a producer share their tips on how to prevent and cope with the situation when faced with an unruly cow.

The first 24 hours is a key time in the newborn’s life. Ron Lemenager, Purdue beef specialist, says calves older than 24 hours are typically hard to catch, so if you plan to process the newborn, it should be done as soon as possible after birth.

“Outside of colostrum, I don’t often talk about some of the other chores that might need done in that time period,” says AJ Tarpoff, Kansas State University Extension veterinarian. “Simply because it’s different for every operation.”

Work as a team: It’s hard to know if you are in danger without someone watching your back. One person can entertain the cow, while the other can tag or accomplish what is needed.”

(Angie Stump Denton)

Depending on your management program, producers may choose to perform some of these tasks in the first 24 hours: tagging, castrating, dehorning, taking birth weights, giving selenium injections or recording calf information in a calving book.

It might be necessary to use nutritional supplements/injectables depending on the operation and cow status. Tarpoff encourages producers to discuss proper products and protocols to use at calving with your veterinarian prior to the first calf hitting the ground.

Commercial cattle producer Tyler Tobald, JTAC Farms, Glasco, Kan., shares his process for newborn calves.

“In the first 24 hours after calving, I will usually put ear tags into the calf,” he says. “If the calf is a bull, I band it. Then, I give the calf some oral vitamin A, D, E, B12 gel while I use a leg band to get its weight. We rotate our calving areas in different parts of the pasture and attached field. After I’m all done tagging, I enter the calf into CattleMax and record any other notes about the cow and calf that I deem important to know for the future.”

Obviously, cow behavior can be a factor when processing a newborn. Just like the video published with this story, sometimes a protective mom decides she is not happy with a producer touching her calf. Tobald says his goal is to keep a cow’s stress levels down as much as possible.

“I check the pair out on a side-by-side,” he explains. “When I roll up, I try to be as quiet as possible and not just zoom up on them. After that, I try to be as quiet as I can. I don’t hoop, holler, talk or anything that will add stimulation to an already stressful situation. I also always keep the cow in front of me as best as possible. The last thing I want is for an amped up 1,300-lb. animal behind me where it can sneak attack me.”

Tobald says his philosophy on dealing with cows, even the over-protective ones, is using the most important of the Roadhouse Rules: Be nice until it’s time to not be nice.

“Thankfully this is a very rare occurrence,” he says. “I make notes of any cow that is over-protective, so I know what I’m dealing with when I approach them in the future. But if the cow gets more aggressive the next year, then the calf doesn’t even get tags and gets loaded into a trailer with the cow and they go to the sale. Life is too short for crazy or mean cows.”

Lemenager explains that right after a cow gives birth, her hormones are raging.

“That’s part of the process that helps her bond to that calf,” he says. “She also needs to stimulate the calf, so it gets up and nurses. If any part of that natural process is interrupted, the cow can become very aggressive.”

Tarpoff shares these tips for dealing with overly protective mother cows.

Have some type of physical separation from mom. This might be a fence, panel, gate, truck, side-by-side. “The only truly safe location is to have a physical barrier between you and the cow while working with the calf”
Work as a team. “It’s hard to know if you are in danger without someone watching your back. One person can entertain the cow, while the other can tag or accomplish what is needed.”
Be efficient and thoughtful with the calf manipulation. “It only takes one painful bellow from the calf to set the cow off. Save potentially painful manipulations until last (ear tags or castration).
Be smart. “Don’t assume cows are faking a threat. When in doubt, always take the safe approach. The chore can always be completed later if the cow is on the fight. Keep records and plan to handle the situation when she calms down.”
Stay safe. “If we get injured, we put stress on the rest of our family and operation.”

Different strategies can help keep the producer and calf safe during newborn processing.

“Some ranchers use a cage on the side of their ATV,” Lemenager explains. “This allows for bringing that calf into the cage while handling it. Another option is to have two people working with the calf. One to care for the calf and the second to keep the cow away.”

If you are going to try to move a calf to another location, an option is a polypropylene plastic sled or a calf carrier on an ATV (calf sling). Lemenager says a cow will typically follow because she can smell and see her calf.

“Ideally, when working with a cow-calf pair, I try to keep the calf between me and the cow,” Lemenager says. “Most, but not all cows, are calmer and less aggressive when they can see and smell their calf.”

Lemenager summarizes a key to improving your cow herd behavior is to consistently use low-stress handling to help desensitize cattle to the presence of people.

Follow Tobald or JTAC Farms on Facebook or TikTok for more examples of low-stress handling and cow management.

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Maximize Breeding Success: Utilize Replacement Heifer Exams

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:54:13 GMT

One step to building and keeping a productive cow herd is in replacement heifer selection. Using pre-breeding exams to help make decisions about which heifers should be kept or culled is a cost-effective way to eliminate potential problems.

Rachel Gray runs Little Timber Farms in Blackduck, Minn., along with her dad and son, raising replacement heifers. They utilize pre-breeding exams for all the heifers they market to other cattle producers. Gray worked with their veterinarian to develop several protocols when they switched from cow-calf to heifer development eight years ago to ensure they are marketing a high-value animal.

“Pre-breeding exams were not something that we did when we were strictly cow-calf,” Gray says. “Now I look back and I think, ‘Boy, we should have.’”

While it’s not fool proof, Gray says it’s her job to find the problems before they are her customers’ problems.

“I think we usually eliminate about 2% of our heifers with this pre-breeding exam,” she says. “Maybe that’s not a ton, but that’s phone calls that I don’t get at three in the morning because a calf is stuck in a V-shaped pelvis.”

With current cattle prices as high as they are, Gray says it makes financial sense to weed out any problems early as those heifers can then be marketed as feeder calves.

“I think the value is not having to spend any more money on an animal that’s not going to be a good producer to you,” Gray says. “Bottom line is, if you have something that is not working, maybe they only have one ovary, and aren’t going to get pregnant fast. Or if there’s something else where you can see ahead of time that a calf is going to get stuck in a pelvis, we all know that’s not profitable. Dead calves are expensive. When you can eliminate that problem on the front end, and sell that heifer as a feeder right now and get some profit, and then either buy back a heifer that works for you or put that money to something else that just really helps clean up that bottom line.”

Elizabeth Picking, field specialist in livestock, University of Missouri Extension, explains pre-breeding exams performed by a veterinarian can help producers identify later-maturing heifers. These exams should be done at around 12-15 months of age, prior to bull turnout or artificial insemination.

“To set that heifer up for lifelong success, she needs to reach puberty by 15 months of age to potentially calve at 24 months,” Picking says. “However, roughly 35% of heifers do not reach puberty by 15 months.”

The reproductive tract is scored from 1 to 5 in relation to the heifer’s puberty status.

(Picking)

“As the reproductive tract score increases, the heifer’s likelihood of becoming pregnant increases,” Picking says. “Heifers with a tract score 4 or 5 are already cycling and will have more opportunities to achieve pregnancy when out with a bull than a heifer who is a tract score 1 or 2 and may not be cycling when the bull is turned out. Further, pregnancy rates are lower on a heifer’s first cycle, so it is best to have a heifer already through her first cycle when she is artificially inseminated or turned out with the bull.”

Heifers who cycle early will also breed and calve earlier in the season.

“Because she calves earlier, she has more days to return to cycling again than later-calving cows in the same herd, and she is more likely to breed back successfully,” Picking says. “This trend generally continues throughout that female’s life, allowing her to produce more calves and be more profitable.”

Along with the reproductive tract score, a veterinarian can measure the pelvic area.

“By selecting for larger pelvic areas, producers can decrease the number of difficult births and death losses, improving their bottom line,” Picking explains. “Producers should consider culling heifers with a pelvic area smaller than 150 cm to avoid the risk of losing the calf or heifer when she calves for the first time.”

Little Timber Farms takes advantage of the pre-breeding exams to evaluate heifers for other culling criteria including bad structure and temperament, as well as giving vaccinations.

Time in the chute allows for vaccinations and evaluating for docility and structure.

(Iconic Images)

“Those animals are getting not only that internal score for their pelvis, how they are reproductively, but they’re getting a docility score. We’re looking at feet. Are we seeing any foot issues, or structure issues, things like that?” Gray explains. “The business is too important to put good cattle out there to breed the bad ones.”

Picking also recommends taking advantage of having the heifers in the chute to give them vaccinations for the following diseases to set them up for success.

• Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD).
• Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR).
• Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV).
• Parainfluenza 3 (PI3).
• Five common types of leptospirosis.

Gray says she understands some producers don’t do pre-breeding exams because they know their cow herd and bloodlines. But she says it’s a low-cost exam that could later save time and money.

“I would encourage people to do it even on your own heifers,” Gray explains. “Get a vet that knows what they’re doing and is willing to ultrasound. I’ve heard some people say they just use the pelometer or just measure. That’s a good place to start. But I think taking a look with the ultrasound is really important because you see things you wouldn’t have otherwise. We found cystic ovaries that maybe wouldn’t have bred. We can eliminate a lot of that problem. We get paid by the pound. We get paid by the calf, so we need to put big, healthy, good calves on the ground.”

Veterinarian Christoper Nord, DMV reads the ultrasound during a pre-breeding exam for Little Timber Farms heifers.

(Iconic Images)

Picking agrees.

“Performing pre-breeding exams on all replacement heifer candidates before investing more time and resources into breeding gives the opportunity to assess each heifer’s potential as a future cow and identify which heifers would be better in the feeder market,” she says.

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Developing Heifers: Expectations for the Next Generation

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:56:41 GMT

Studies have shown that it can take the net profit from five or six calves, to break even on the investment of developing a heifer.

Shelby Rosasco, University of Wyoming extension beef specialist, encourages producers to calculate the break-even point and return on investment when developing replacement heifers. Heifer development costs to consider include feed, health, breeding and other management expenses.

She points out it is important to remember heifer development is unique for each operation and to consider that production goals and environment all impact a female’s success.

“Manage heifers to fit their future production environment,” she suggests. This can help select for heifers better adapted to the conditions they will face as cows.

“If you have the resources and you can feed them and get them to 60 to 65% mature body weight, relatively easy, that’s great,” she explains. “You’re going to be really successful, but if you’re never going to treat them like that as a cow again, I think we need to think about, how do I select and adapt those heifers to fit their future production environment?”

Shelby Rosasco, University of Wyoming extension beef specialist, encourages producers to manage heifers to fit their future production environment.

(ARSBC)

Rosasco discussed the nutritional management of replacement heifers for reproductive success at the Beef Reproduction Task Force’s Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Symposium.

“We can develop heifers to a slightly lower percentage mature body weight and still be successful,” she says summarizing research.

Rosasco adds it is better to challenge the heifers when they are young not when you are trying to re-breed them as a first-calf heifer.

“I think putting pressure on them as a heifer, is a better time to do that, versus waiting till they’re in the cow herd, and then they’re falling out as young cows and you have put additional money and the time into them.”

According to Rosasco the expectations for a heifer should be to:

Attain puberty before breeding season
Become pregnant early in the calving season and calve by 2 years of age.
“Heifers that get bred in the first 21 days have an increase in survivability and retention in the herd, and they also see increased weaning weights over their first six calves,” she says.
Calve without assistance
Wean a marketable calf
Rebreed as first-calf heifer and maintain 365-day calving interval
Maximize lifetime productivity with adequate longevity. Stay in the herd long enough to break even and start turning a profit.

Rosasco says a stair-step approach to nutrition — utilizing periods of low gains followed by periods of stepping them up to higher gains, results in benefits to increase the ovarian reserve, which can improve longevity.

Another point Rosasco stresses is the importance of maintaining nutrition after development and during the breeding phase as the heifer is continuing to grow.

“We need to make sure that their rate of gain and nutritional management stays consistent, from pre-breeding to when we AI or turn the bulls out,” she says. “If producers are developing heifers in a drylot or managing them on a higher plane of nutrition and then turning them out on to pasture during breeding season there is potential for a change in nutrient intake and rate of gain. And with that change in nutrition, even though it’s good summer pasture, we can see a decrease in AI or first-service conception rates.”

Long term, Rosasco summarizes the key for female longevity and productivity is to tailor her nutritional management strategies to the specific needs and goals of the operation to optimize reproductive success in the replacement heifers.

Your next read: Calculating Costs for Replacement Heifers

Retained Placenta in Beef Cattle

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:22:52 GMT

Retention of fetal membranes, or retained placenta, in cows usually is defined as failure to expel fetal membranes within 24 hours after parturition. Normally the expulsion occurs within eight hours after delivery of the calf. The placenta is retained when the cotyledons on the placenta do not detach from the caruncles on the uterus during parturition. Retained placenta is rare in most cow herds.

Retained placenta creates the potential for problems. It hangs from the vulva which permits manure and micro-organisms from the manure into the uterus. Also, when the cow lays down in dirt or mud which is loaded with bacteria, it permits bacteria to cause infection in the uterus and can have serious negative consequences. Infection in the uterus can cause the cow to become ill (fever, weight loss, etc). In severe cases of infection the cow can actually die. When the uterus becomes infected and inflamed, it takes longer for the cow to clean and be ready for the next breeding season. Retained placentas can result in delayed rebreeding or cows coming up open at the end of breeding season.

Bottomline: retained placentas jeopardize reproductive efficiency and can rob operations of profit potential.

Typical causes of retained placenta

Dystocia. As a result of too large a calf, twins or abnormal presentation of the fetus, calving difficulty is a cause.

Poor nutrition. Inadequate consumption of energy or protein during pregnancy can result in thin cows. Dietary deficiency of Vitamin A, Selenium, Iodine or Vitamin E have been linked to retained placenta. Retained placenta is most often associated with nutrition, in particular, low levels of Vitamin A or the mineral Selenium.

Stress, obesity and genetics can play a role.

Infectious diseases like Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, IBR virus or BVD virus.

What are the best management practices to prevent retained placenta?
Over time, proper nutrition, herd health and mineral supplementation should solve most the problems. Typically the best source of vitamin A for cattle is green, leafy forage. A good quality free choice mineral supplement containing Selenium is advised. Cows and heifers in Body Condition Scores of 5 to 6 at calving time is advised. If you are dealing with sick cows as a result of retained placenta, consult your veterinarian for best treatment options.

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