Strategic Bull Selection

Breeding season – and the work that leads to it – is a crucial time for a ranch. The decisions made here directly impact calving and sale season results.

As you identify goals and ambitions and create a map to get there, it is imperative to have herd sires either on the ground or in a straw that can help you reach your destination.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing food system, ranchers are more pressured to keep a close eye on the market flow and demands as they develop the next cattle crop. That means that, more than ever before, the decisions made each breeding season must be as strategic as possible.

Goal setting

When selecting bull characteristics, identify both the marketing and breeding aspect for your goals. Determine the destiny and purpose of the calves. Are they replacements? Or will they be sold as beef animals? 

Grady Ruble of South Dakota State University notes in his Bull Selection bulletin that this also requires the producer to look at what traits they desire and if there are any environmental factors that might impact certain traits.

More than at any other point in history, beef producers have the capability to harness health and environmental traits for their herds thanks to genomics. With continual evaluations and indexes becoming available, it’s wise for both commercial and seedstock producers to keep a pulse on the genetic world.

Performance traits for both terminal and maternal animals should be considered alongside the current state of the whole herd and its potential. 

To keep abreast of the overwhelming indexes and expected progeny differences (EPDs), it’s helpful to start the old-fashioned way by creating a list of desired traits and then sorting them based on the importance of each. That provides a baseline when examining and comparing bulls.

Determining the traits that make the cut should include a blend of combing through tangible records and sale numbers along with a visual inspection and perhaps professional consultation. Visual and record inspection before breeding also affords an opportunity to do a last-minute culling of animals that are costing more than they are worth.

Making the selection

In my previous article, Strategic and Scientific Bull Selection, I mentioned how every new sire you bring into the herd (herd bull or from a tank), brings in some permanent genetic change. Additionally, operations that retain their own heifers in a closed herd are limited to some extent in their genetic change. 

In many cases, genetic change is accelerated in crossbreeding programs due to heterosis. Crossbreeding is becoming more popular in the seedstock circle as well as commercial circles.

While EPDs continue to grow in their accuracy, there has been an industry-wide trend to move  towards the dollar index as the be-all-end-all for multitrait selection.

It’s a valuable tool no doubt, especially for those tricky economic traits. However, using them exclusively – or using them without consideration as to what they actually stand for – can be detrimental.

Remember that indexes like EPDs are updated and the formulas can change. Be sure to do your research with the most up-to-date information about the indexes and the traits they include. Breed associations and geneticists are your friends on these matters. As well,  they are often an excellent source of free information.

In her bulletin Here’s the Beef: Basics for Selecting a Bull  for Texas A&M University, Kaitlyn Arnold noted that it is very important that herd bulls or bulls that are physically being brought in to service a herd come with records and are visually inspected for physical appearance.

Structural soundness is important to evaluate as it will impact performance and longevity. You need to see and evaluate this because it will not be qualified by a number on paper.

It is additionally important to evaluate their reproductivity through a breeding soundness exam. This should be done routinely to make sure the bull is still a viable option.

From this aspect, it’s also helpful to purchase a live bull that has been raised in conditions similar to the one you provide in your operation. This will ensure he can do his job and does not need to adjust to harsher conditions than he’s been acclimated to.

Points worth remembering

Be sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket from a genetics standpoint when choosing a herd sire. . Many traits need to be considered. Choosing a bull because he is strong in one suit, may leave important traits overlooked or neglected.

Artificial insemination can be a powerful tool during breeding season, opening the herd to a larger pool of genetic traits that can influence change.

Small-scale producers must especially be judicious in their selection. Be mindful of negative correlations and trade-offs between carcass quality and performance traits.

Rachel Owens writes in her bulletin  Selecting the Right Bull for your Herd for North Carolina Cooperative Extension: 

“Selecting for only calving ease can lead to calves that stay small at weaning and yearling weights, which means less money in your pocket on sale day. However, you cannot select for every single trait, especially since some traits are inherently opposite. Consider how traits interact when making decisions.”

Again it is important to consider the traits you are selecting for and the potential risks of what other traits might be impacted or limited by the mating decision for the desired trait.

Choosing herd sires for the next generation of calves is a very personal decision based on a myriad of individual factors that vary by herd. Determine what traits most impact your operation, evaluate the tools available to help you choose sires and then look for the bulls that most closely fit your needs.

For some, this will be a single bull. For others, it could be several bulls. For some, this may mean creating their own bulls through A.I. or embryo transfer.

How Soon Will a Cow Breed Back After Calving

How Soon Will a Cow Breed Back After Calving

Article courtesy of BioZyme® Inc.

(SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., April 30, 2024) We expect a lot from a cow. She spends roughly 283 days in gestation, delivers a calf, and then we prepare her for breed back and expect her to conceive problem free during her first heat. That is a lot for the body to handle, and the cow does it, hopefully, year after year after year.

The time it takes for a cow to breed back after calving is often referred to as the postpartum interval. Its length of time varies based on several factors, including the cow’s health, body condition, age, breed, nutrition and management practices.

So, how soon will a cow breed back after calving?

The Timeframe

On average, most cows are expected to breed back within 45 to 90 days after calving. This period allows the cow’s reproductive system to recover and prepare for the next breeding cycle. A shorter postpartum interval contributes to a consistent calving interval, allowing the cow to calve at approximately the same time each year.

Keeping your herd on the same calving interval also keeps your calf crop consistent and uniform. This helps with weaning and marketing as buyers look for calves of consistent age, size and weight at weaning and sale time.

Factors That Influence Postpartum Interval

Body Condition

Cows with a good body condition score at calving tend to have a shorter postpartum interval. If a cow is underweight or in poor condition, it may take longer for her to regain reproductive function. Get your cows ready for breeding with a good plane of nutrition.

You don’t want to have them be too fat or too thin. Although they are calving during spring, when grasses are at their lushest, remember that grass is often watery and may not contain the DM needed for the cow. You might need to supplement with added grain or hay, especially since they are raising a calf and preparing for breed back simultaneously.

Age

How soon will a cow breed back after calving? It’s often going to depend on their age. First-calf heifers may take longer to breed back compared to mature cows because they are still growing and recovering from their first calving experience.

Remember, as nutrients are partitioned out, growth is a priority. Reproduction is the lowest priority for younger females. So, you need to provide for your young females nutritionally to support long-term reproductive success.

Nutrition

Adequate nutrition plays a crucial role in reproductive recovery. Cows receiving proper nutrition and mineral supplementation are more likely to breed back sooner. This is where we can help your herd with a vitamin and mineral supplement like VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®. The Concept•Aid products promote effective, easy breeding when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding. Concept•Aid products contain:

·      AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility.

·      Organic copper, iodine and zinc for maximum bioavailability, innate immunity and hoof health.

·      High levels of Vitamin E to support reproductive tract repair and milk quality.

Available in a variety of formulas, in both loose and tubs, VitaFerm makes a Concept•Aid formula for every management scenario. Find the Concept•Aid best for your operation with our Concept•Aid Product Navigator.

Breed

Some breeds or genetic lines may have a shorter or longer postpartum interval due to differences in reproductive efficiency. Record keeping is an important tool to track which genetic lines do indeed breed back faster. If you have continued challenges with the same cow each year, it might be time to consider culling her.

Management Practices

Proper management, including minimizing stress, providing adequate care and ensuring a suitable breeding environment, can influence the postpartum interval. This includes providing shelter and space as needed, fresh, plentiful water and ensuring that your herd remains healthy postpartum.

Estrus Cycle Resumption

After calving, cows undergo a period of reproductive recovery known as the “anestrus period.” This is the time between calving and the resumption of estrus (heat cycles). Factors such as nutritional status, stress and body condition can affect the duration of this period.

Estrus Synchronization

Some producers use estrus synchronization protocols to induce estrus and shorten the postpartum interval. This can help manage breeding more efficiently and achieve desired calving intervals. Using CIDRS or other hormone injection techniques are the most common synchronization methods. To discover the protocol right for you and your operation, work with your veterinarian or your beef genetic supplier or reproduction specialist.

BioZyme® Can Help

At BioZyme, believe in care that comes full circle for every animal. That is why we want to help you determine how soon will a cow breed back after calving. To ensure cows breed back in a timely manner, it’s essential to focus on the following:

  • Maintain cows in optimal body condition through proper nutrition.
  • Reduce stress and provide a clean and comfortable environment.
  • Monitor cows for signs of estrus (heat) and use appropriate breeding methods (natural service or artificial insemination).
  • Implement breeding protocols that align with herd management goals.
  • Ensure cows receive adequate mineral and vitamin supplementation – VitaFerm Concept•Aid.

If a cow doesn’t breed back within the expected timeframe, it may be necessary to evaluate her health, nutrition and management to determine any issues and implement corrective measures.

Get your VitaFerm Today

Not sure how soon will a cow breed back after calving? Well, with the help of VitaFerm, it will be a lot sooner than your neighbor’s cows who isn’t using VitaFerm!

Are you ready to add VitaFerm to your mineral program? We hope so! Not only will VitaFerm help with easy, effective breeding, it will also increase digestibility, helping keep your entire herd healthier. 

Not sure what product is right for your operation? Refer to the Concept•Aid Product Navigator to help you discover the product best for you.

Are you looking for a handy gestation calculator to help you determine the right time to breed back your cows based on when you want to calve? We’ve got you covered there too! Check out our automated Gestation Calculator.

Looking to buy the VitaFerm products locally? Find a local dealer here. 

If you’re not seeing a dealer in your area but still want to support local businesses, consider referring a dealer. 

About BioZyme® Inc.

BioZyme Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral and protein supplements for a variety of animals including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses and dogs. BioZyme brands include AO-Biotics, VitaFerm®, Gain Smart®, Sure Champ®, Vitalize®, DuraFerm® and Backyard Boost®. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com.

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