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Percent Cows Bred and Operating Profits

P

pointrider

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Mar 20, 2005
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Location
Texas
It's been reported that cow herds that have the highest rates of bred cows among cows exposed (100% or close to it) are not very profitable because the high bred cow rates are usually the result of extended breeding seasons and/or high supplemental feeding rates both of which usually carry high operating costs.

If you agree with this, and if you agree that it is important to get as many cows bred as possible without going overboard on high-cost measures, what do you believe are the 2 or 3 most important things to do to achieve high breeding rates without going overboard on costs?
 
1. Timing - timing breeding to a rising plane of nutrition in forage is a low cost way to improve conception (it also affects calving time and marketing options).
2. Herd health - having a clean cowherd that maintains its vaccination protocol goes a long way
3. Semen test bulls every year and watch for libido
4. Mineral program that matches needs of the cowherd and environment.
 
I'll agree with everything that RSL said. Another thing that helps I think is having your cows in good condition going into winter. Early weaning helps achieve this goal. Dry cows on dry grass can gain alot in the fall and early winter. Calves can also gain more on a balanced ration in the fall than dry grass and milk. It's a win win situation.
 
5. Match the cowherd for the environment. To further Big Swede's point. Match the feed resources to the animal types. That usually means dry grass dry cows and the calves going on to the necessary regime for what they are intended for. Grassers, feeder, backgrounders...etc.

1a. Rising plane of nutrition has to start at time of calving. (according to Dick Diven) Cow needs to be gaining (no mater how little) at time of calving) Breed as close the the longest day of the year as possible (again Diven.)
 
I think a person can read anything they want into that poll or research.
There are more questions to be asked. It should have been presented as percentage in a 60 day breeding time frame, or a 50 day or etc. To lump them all together doesn't mean alot. I know of people with 6 cows with a 100 percentage bred. But it doesn't mean anything.
 
Statistically it may not mean anything, but the guy who gets 6 for 6 is probably grateful. :wink:

The other point I would argue is as important as anyting else mantioned, is culling. Pull your bulls after 30 days, 45 days, 60 days, or whatever the heck you want for a calving season. Keep only replacement heifers that were born in the first cycle from cows who have never had a fertility issue - meaning they also always calve in the first cycle. Cull absolutely every open cow for 5-10 years, and you will breed in fertility.

Another thing to keep in mind is bull power. If you AI everything, well, you're only ever going to get so many, then the clean up bulls take care of the rest. If you reall, really want to push the bar, without feeding alot, just throw out more bulls. Much easier on a large scale commercial outfit than a purebred one, but it can be done. When you study nature, the species with the highest fertility rates are ones with a very high male-female ratio ie, birds having 1:1. 2 million snow geese lay 3-6 million eggs in a matter of 4-5 days in Northern Canada every year. That happens because every female has a mate. It's a phenomenal accomplishment, but it happens every year. So why do some producers think that the ideal is 1 bull for every 50-70 cows, who then take 60 days or more to have all of their calves? If we mob run things, the ratio will be more like 1 bull to every 20 cows. There is obviously a higher cost of buying, replacing and maintaining bulls, but it's my choice- for now. :wink:
 
Bull to cow rations are also largely influenced by breeding pasture size and geography. If you're breeding 400 head of cows in 15 or 20 sections of bushland you'll want a few more bulls than if you're rotating them through 1/4 section cultivated pastures.
 

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