Calving Management

Question 1

What is the single most crucial factor for profitable beef management?

Answer 1

Reproduction

Question 2

What are some of the major challenges for beef producers?

Answer 2

• Higher commodity prices for cereals and hay
• Increased inputs like fuel, fertilizer, and land prices

Question 3

What factors influence calfing season?

Answer 3

• weather patterns
• favourable labour distribution
• rebreeding
• weaning
• marketing

Question 4

Why do producers traditionally calve earlier in the year?

Answer 4

To ensure an older heavier calf for the fall weaning and into the cold winters

Question 5

What unfavourable environmental conditions affect the time of calving?

Answer 5

All unpredictable and variable, making it difficult to choose a calving date
- ambient temperature
- annual rainfall
- humidity
- wind
- growing/grazing season

Question 6

How do heat stress and cold stress affect females

Answer 6

Heat stress
- reduced calf performance
- reduced intake
- Negatively affects reproduction

Cold stress
Freezing temperatures: Frozen extremities
- Heavy snow storms: hypothermia

Question 7

How is heat produced vs lost in cows

Answer 7

Heat produced from fermentation and tissue metabolism
Heat loss from evaporation, radiation, convection, and conduction

Question 8

What is the optimum temperature range for cattle growth and performance?

Answer 8

18-20 degrees Celsius

Question 9

What environmental and animal factors contribute to heat loss in cattle?

Answer 9

Environmental: wind speed, precipitation, humidity, contact surfaces, and thermal radiation

Animal: Surface area, insulation, and respiration volume

Question 10

When ambient temperature and thermal radiation > skin temperature, how do cattle gain the heat?

Answer 10

radiant
conductive
convective

Question 11

How does relative humidity (RH) affect heat dissipation

Answer 11

Has a large effect on how well it can dissipate