Upload
lars
View
58
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Maximizing Reproductive Performance in Beef Cows. Spring 2004 Cow Calf Programs Mauston-March 6 Plover-March 13 Montello-March 20. Keith VanderVelde Livestock Agent Marquette Co. UWEX. Reproductive Performance. Cows Job Description is ??. Reproductive Performance. Cows Job Description - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Maximizing Reproductive Maximizing Reproductive Performance inPerformance in
Beef CowsBeef Cows
Keith VanderVeldeLivestock Agent
Marquette Co. UWEX
Spring 2004 Cow Calf ProgramsMauston-March 6Plover-March 13
Montello-March 20
Reproductive Performance
Cows Job Description Cows Job Description is ??is ??
Reproductive Performance
Cows Job Description1. Produce & Wean Live calf each 365 Year
Requires regular breeding2. Make a positive return to labor & management
Dependent on Feed CostCalf Prices
Reproductive Performance
It all starts with the heifers1. Reach Puberty at 10 months of age
1. Varies by breed-Jersey to Brahman2. Use 65% of mature weight as guide when to breed3. Breed heifer to calve 30 days in advance of cows
1. Allows heifers more time post partum 2. Requires additional feed and labor
Reproductive Performance
It all starts with the heifers1. At calving
1. Assist after 30 minutes of hard labor2. Feed heifers to weigh 85% of mature size3. Have heifers on gaining weight 30 prior to calving
thru rebreeding4. Body condition scores should be 5 or 6
Reproductive PerformanceCows need regular reproduction1. Cows must rebreed 85 days after calving to
stay on 365 day calving interval2. Cows need to be gaining weight from calving to
rebreeding1. Calves will compete for energy 2. Energy and protein needs increase by 50% after
calving
Reproductive PerformanceHow to manage cows to insure regular reproduction
1. Feed cows to gain from mid-gestation to 90 days after calving
2. Body Condition Cows in the fall and spring3. Consider calf removal as a management tool4. Provide adequate high protein, high energy feed for
period from calving to rebreeding1. Consider hold back the best feed for this period2. Supplement with grain and Soybean Meal
Maximizing Reproductive Performance
• Vaccination Programs– BVD and IBR– Leptospirosis– Campylobacteriosis(Vibro)– Trichomoniasis(Trich)
Maximizing Reproductive Performance
• Vaccination Programs– Yearly vaccinations recommended for open
herd with animals coming into herd– Or Vaccinate in response to disease outbreak is
best suited to closed herds
Maximizing Reproductive Performance• Vaccination Programs
– Recommended • BVD• IBR• PI3• Bovine Respiratory Syncitial Virus(BRSV)• Clostridial strains• Haemophilus somnus• Pasteurella haemolytica• Lepto
Maximizing Reproductive Performance• Conduct annual Pregnancy Checks
– Can be done 45 days after bulls are removed– Or should be done 4 months after bulls are
introduced to cows for rebreeding– Open cows should be culled or moved to a
alternate calving program—Fall Calving– BULL Management
• Fertility Check bulls 60 days before breeding season
Maximizing Reproductive Performance
• Leaving the Bull Out Too Long– Length of Breeding Season Matters– Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico Study, Glenn Selk, OSU
Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist– 394 Ranch Records– Positive Relationship between number of days of breeding
season on cost per hundred weight of calf weaned– For each additional day of breeding season the cost per cwt
increased by 4.7 cents and pounds of calf weaned per cow decreased by 0.158 pound
Maximizing Reproductive Performance• Leaving the Bull Out Too Long Conclusions:
– 365 day breeding season results in additional cost of $13.63 per hundred weight of weaned calf as opposed to the 75 day breeding season.
– 365 day breeding season results in 46 fewer pounds sold per cow per year when compared to 75 day breeding season
– On a 50 cow operation the impact is:• Two thousand ninety one (2291) less lbs sold • An increased cost of $68.15 per head for 500 lb calf• $3408 increased cost assuming 100% conception rate
Body Condition ScoringBody Condition Scoring• The main factors determining the pounds-of-
calf-weaned in a beef herd are growth rate of the calf, the proportion of cows pregnant and the calving patterns of the cow herd.
• Producers working with beef cows should:1) Know how to estimate body condition2) Understand the influence body condition has on production.3) Know how and when to change body condition.4) Be able to calculate the costs and returns for changing
body condition.
Practical Importance of Practical Importance of Body Conditioning Body Conditioning
ScoringScoring• Body condition scoring is a subjective
measure of the amount of fat in an animal’s body.
• Body condition influences production in a beef cow herd in three ways:1) Growth rate of a calf suckling a thin cow is decreased.2) Pregnancy rate in thin cows is lowered.3) Thin cows become pregnant later in the breeding season and thus calve later in the following year.
Determination of Determination of Body ConditionBody Condition
• Two methods currently used to determine body condition are:1)Measurement of covering over the ribs, shoulder and back.2) Measurement of covering over the short rib and tailhead.
• Both methods appear to be accurate, and the system used is largely a matter of preference.
• The Nebraska System scores cows from 1 (thin) through 9 (fat) and the Scottish System from 1 (thin)to 5 (fat).
1……………………………emaciated2……………………………very thin3……………………………thin4……………………………borderline5……………………………moderate6……………………………good7……………………………fleshy8……………………………fat9……………………………extremely fat
Pregnancy Rate and Post-Partum Pregnancy Rate and Post-Partum EstrusEstrus
• Studies have shown a decrease in pregnancy rates in thin cows
• Cows that were grazed on similar pastures during a 120-day breeding season varied in pregnancy rate from 23% for body condition score ‘2’ to a 95% pregnancy rate for body condition score ‘7’
• Other studies have shown similar results with the difference ranging from 10% to 20% less in pregnancy rates for cows with body condition score of ‘4’ or less.
• The reason the pregnancy rate is lowered is cows that are in thin condition have a delay in the onset of estrus.
Body condition and pregnancy rate in a Body condition and pregnancy rate in a group of cows in Floridagroup of cows in FloridaBODY CONDITION NEAR CALVING
2 3 4 5&6 7very thin thin borderline moderategood
No. OfCows Pregnant
115 545 564 344 234
After Breeding60 days (%)
5 15 19 40 56
120 days (%)
23 51 73 86 95
Missouri Trial Young Beef Cows
• Condition score at calving Condition score change after calving to day 90 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
• 3 189 173 160 150 143 139 139 4 161 145 131 121 115 111 111 5 133 116 103 93 86 83 82 5.5 118 102 89 79 72 69 66
Proportion of cows showing estrus at Proportion of cows showing estrus at different times after calvingdifferent times after calving
Body Condition2-3 4-6 7-8Thin Moderate Good
No. of Cows 272 364 50
Days post-calving30 3a 7 1340 19 21 3150 34 45 4260 46 61 9170 55 79 9680 62 88 9890 66 92 100
a % of cows showing estrus by this time.
Condition at calving Condition at calving determines rebreeding determines rebreeding
raterate
Post-Calving NutritionPost-Calving Nutrition• It is desirable to maintain cows at a BCS
of 5 or more through breeding. Cows less than 5 need to be fed to improve their condition, which is expensive to accomplish while nursing a calf.
• Research shows that moderate condition cows losing weight after calving tended to show estrus sooner after calving than cows gaining weight.
Post-Calving NutritionPost-Calving Nutrition
• These differences continued until 80 post-calving.
• This information indicated that body condition at calving has more influence on the onset of estrus than feed level post-calving.
Growth Rate of the Growth Rate of the Suckling Calf and Milk Suckling Calf and Milk Production of the CowProduction of the Cow
• Milk consumption and calf growth rates were lower in thin conditioned heifers than those that were in moderate condition.
• The energy level received post-calving had little influence on milk production or calf growth in heifers.
Growth Rate for the Growth Rate for the Suckling Calf and Milk Suckling Calf and Milk Production of the CowProduction of the Cow
• This data indicates that cows that calve thin will have lower milk production and, consequently, slower calf growth than those calving in moderate or good condition.
Improving Production Improving Production by Changing Body by Changing Body
ConditionConditionImprovement in body condition will
improve the pounds-of-calf-weaned in three ways:1) Calves suckling a cow in moderate or good condition grow faster than calves suckling a thin cow.
2) More cows in moderate or good body condition will be pregnant at the end of the breeding season.
3) More cows in moderate or good body condition will calve early next year.
Weight Changes Needed to Change Weight Changes Needed to Change BCSBCS
CHANGEFROM TO
Increase in weight needed(lbs.)FAT & CALF &MUSCLE MEMBRANESa
TOTAL
ADG Needed to makeChange (lbs.)70days 100days 150 days 200 days
2 5Dry Preg. Cow 241 100 341 4.9 3.3 2.2 1.8Wet Cow 241 0 241 3.3 2.4 1.6 1.1
3 5Dry Preg. Cow 161 100 261 3.8 2.6 1.8 1.3Wet Cow 161 0 161 2.2 1.6 1.1 .9
4 5Dry Preg. Cow 80 100 180 2.6 1.8 1.1 .9Wet Cow 80 0 80 1.1 08 05 04
5 5Dry Preg. Cow 0 100 100 1.3 .8 .6 .4Wet Cow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
a Last 100 days of pregnancy.
What is “GOOD” Body What is “GOOD” Body Condition?Condition?
Body Condition 3
Body Condition 6
Body Condition Scoring Tips
Have a neighbor score your cowsAccept his scoresWe often see our own cows too oftenIf in doubt about condition put in chute
and feel animal over the ribs.Feed to improve to desired conditionIf cows are too fat 7+ do not put on diet
until rebreeding has occurred