From the Field
Making the Most of Herd Sires
By Nathan Smith, NALF regional manager
The last few months have
filled not only my schedule,
but much of the memberships
schedules, with both sales
and exposition type shows
where marketing their genetics
is the primary goal. So far,
the events that I have been
fortunate enough to attend
have been quite strong for the
current state of the agricultural
economy with averages up
and quality deep at all sales.
The movement of these genetics
leads to the next major event of
the year for both membership
and their customers alike,
breeding season. That in mind
and this being the Herd Sire
Edition of LIMOUSIN TODAY,
let’s take a look at a few
management tips and practices
to help your customers make
the most of that new herd
72 | APRIL 2018
sire or genetic package they
brought home this year.
Body Condition Score
One primary factor in the
successfulness of a breeding
season is the body condition
that not only bulls, but females
especially, are maintaining as
they go through calving and
into breeding season. Body
Condition Score is a numerical
estimation of fat on the cow’s
body ranging from 1-9 with
the difference in a BCS score
typically being about 75lbs.
According to Dr. Les Anderson,
University of Kentucky, as we
approach a BCS of less than 5
at calving, production cycles
lengthen dramatically. Research
has shown that cows with a BCS
of 3 at pre-calving to have a
calving interval of approximately
400 days, while cows with a BCS
of 6 at the same point have a
calving interval of approximately
360 days. The management
of BCS after calving impacts
rebreeding efficiency heavily as
well, with the thin cows (BCS<5)
being half as likely to have
initiated estrous by the second
month of the breeding season
according to South Dakota
State research. So, by keeping
body condition score in mind
as we go through calving and
breeding season, we can help
customers deliver more pounds
to market down the road.
Breeding Soundness Exams
With April here and many of
our producers preparing for
turn out, now is a good time to
re-educate ourselves on what
goes into a good breeding
soundness exam. A breeding
soundness exam sorts out the
bulls that are no longer capable
of impregnating females and as
importantly, it helps to identify
bulls that are more efficient at