Management
by providing the ability to
introduce elite genetics into the
cow herd for a small price and
breed many cows at one time,
respectively. The 2018 Beef
Cow and Heifer AI Breeding
Protocols are available online.
However, if AI is not for you,
synchronization can be utilized
within natural service settings
to group cows together for
the bulls to breed. For more
information on NS protocols
and bull to cow ratios, read the
Using Estrous Synchronization
in Natural-Service Breeding
Situations factsheet. In
addition, consider how long
the breeding season will be.
A 60-day breeding season will
give cows three opportunities
to become bred. Adding an AI
or estrus synch program gives
them an extra chance, so four
opportunities to become bred
during the same 60 days. Lastly,
keep in the back of your mind
to conduct pregnancy checks
early after bulls are pulled
(45 days) to aid pasture and
feed savings as we are going
into another dry summer. The
earlier preg check can occur,
the sooner we can pull open
cows off of valuable pasture.
as they have difficulty resuming
cyclicity and rebreeding early
due to increased nutrient
demands of growth and
lactation requirements of their
first calf at side. Depending
on the number of pastures
or lots available, running this
group of young and old cows
separate from the brood cow
herd can make management
easier through the summer
and fall. For example, if it gets
dry again, old cows may need
to be the first into town, while
young cows can be drylotted
with cost effective feedstuffs
until fall grazing season arrives.
Pay Attention to Young
& Old Cows
Consider sorting off any young
or old cows that need some
supplementation or extra
TLC moving from calving to
breeding season. Two-year old
cows may fall into this category
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