Reproduction

To keep or not to keep . . . that is the question facing many producers today when making the decision about weaned heifers. Many producers may wish they would have kept some heifers back two years ago to have calves to sell today, but record-high prices for feeder heifers ...

Setting replacement heifers up for cowherd longevity is more than achieving a first pregnancy.  It requires building females that remain productive within the constraints of their production environment (forage resources, climate, and management).   Research across a range of development systems demonstrates that similar pregnancy rates can often be achieved ...

Castration remains one of the most important management practices in beef production, yet the timing and method continue to generate discussion among producers. Castration is a key component of calf preconditioning programs, which are designed to reduce stress, improve health, and enhance performance after calves leave the ranch of origin. ...

Our expectations of first-calf heifers are high. We ask a 2-year-old cow to calve for the first time, rebreed on time to maintain a 365-day calving interval and continue growing all at the same time. On top of that, there is significant financial pressure on this animal. She has not ...

Owning bulls during the idle months is not all sunshine and rainbows. Broken fence, beat up hay rings, injuries from fighting …. And all that comes with bored boys - I mean bulls - in the winter. However, bull management must be held to high standards in order to get ...

Selection of cattle is the process by which we determine which animals become parents, how many offspring they will produce and how long they will remain in our breeding herd. When we select replacement heifers or herd bulls we are practicing selection. When we cull old, open cows or ornery ...

Calf scours remains one of the most common health challenges facing cow-calf producers and is rarely caused by a single factor. Instead, diarrhea results from the interaction between disease-causing organisms, the calf, and its environment. One management approach designed to address environmental exposure during calving is the Sandhills calving system. This ...

STOCKTON, Missouri. – “A bull breeding soundness exam (BSE) is suggested prior to each breeding season to make sure a bull is physically and reproductively sound to breed females,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. During the fall, MU Extension cooperated with veterinarians and a pharmaceutical ...

STOCKTON, Mo. – Have you scheduled your bull breeding soundness exam? Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, suggests your bulls have a BSE prior to each breeding season. “The bull BSE helps make sure bulls are ready to be successful during the breeding season,” says Davis. The ...

There is evidence of an increase in heifer retention with improved drought conditions across much of the Central Plains and summer video auctions reporting a smaller percentage of heifer calves. Retention does not appear to be aggressive. With the calf market on pace for another year of record prices providing ...