Breeding Management of Beef

Question 1

how do we manage the newborn?

Answer 1

• ensure adequate colostral intake
• ensure cow is mothering calf
• Vit E & Selenium
• Dip Navel
• ID tag
• record birth weight
• dehorn/castrate < 7 days of age (next option is at 1-2 months of age)

Question 2

How do we manage calves at “turn-out”

Answer 2

• clostridial vaccines
• optional initial Histophilus somni vx
• other resp vx: Mannheimia hemolytica, P. multocida, IBR/PI3/BVD/BRSV, intranasal vaccines as option)
• dehorning & castration if required
• growth implant for steer calves (potentially heifer calves)
• vit E/Selenium injection

Question 3

Why do we castrate beef calves?

Answer 3

• bull calves are discounted heavily
• NA industry does not give high prices for bull carcasses
• intact bulls are difficult to manage
• implants at branding or “turn-out” offset weight gain disadvantage
• Ralgro or synovex C

Question 4

What are the priority welfare issues?

Answer 4

• painful procedures
• feedlot health & morbidity
• weaning methods
• environmental & housing conditions

Question 5

What are painful procedures done to beef calves?

Answer 5

• dehorning, castrating, banding

Question 6

What causes feedlot morbidity?

Answer 6

• Bovine respiratory disease
• lameness
• nutritional diseases associated w/ high concentrate feeding

Question 7

What are problems with housing?

Answer 7

• mud, extreme heat or cold

Question 8

How do we manage a cow herd prior to breeding season?

Answer 8

• vaccination of cows
• fly tags
• BSC
• weigh heifers for assessment of target weights
• potentially reproductive tract scoring & pelvic measurements in heifers
• potentially estrous synchronization for heifers
• bull evaluations +/- Trichomoniasis testing

Question 9

What are the objectives of reproductive management?

Answer 9

• high percentage of cows pregnant
• maximize weaning weights
• uniform calf crop (short breeding season)
• breed heifers to calve as 2 yr olds
• one calf/cow/yr over 3-5 reproductive lifetime

Question 10

What are nature’s obstacles in breeding?

Answer 10

• fixed gestation length (cow must conceive w/in 85 days of calving)
• delay in 1st estrus due to suckling (suckled beef cows do not begin estrous cycles for 40-60 days post calving)
• conception rate of 60-70% max

Question 11

How does the restricted breeding season contribute to this?

Answer 11

• restricted breeding provides selection pressure for cow fertility
• reduction of 25-50 lbs in calf weaning weights for every 21 days later in the calving season that the calf is born (Goal: 60% of calves born in 1st 21 days)
• other management strategies are simplified w/ restricted breeding season (nutritional management & vaccinations)