Three key management concepts can help commercial cow/calf operations improve the productivity of their cow herds. However, planning and preparation must take place well in advance of the spring breeding season. The key areas to consider include: 1) assess the bull power; 2) immunize the replacement heifers properly; and 3) have a short breeding season for the replacement heifers. Lets examine each one briefly in more detail.

Bull power:

Do you have enough bulls to meet the needs of the cow herd? Very young 12 month to 15 month old bulls should be placed with 12 – 15 females. Two year-old bulls can be placed with 18 – 24 females and experienced bulls should be able to breed 25 females or even a few more depending of the size of the breeding pastures.

Have the bulls recently passed a breeding soundness examination?

Arrange with your veterinarian a time to check the bulls for breeding soundness. Research has indicated that one of every six bulls will be questionable or unsatisfactory upon examination. It is important to find sub-fertile bulls in plenty of time to allow for the replacement bulls to be located and purchased for the upcoming breeding season and to allow time for the bull to be treated, if necessary, then re-checked. New bulls should be brought to their new environment about a month prior to breeding. This gives them an opportunity to become adapted to their new environment before the critical start of a breeding season.

Immunize the heifers:

Replacement heifers should be immunized for respiratory diseases such as IBR and BVD. Consult your veterinarian, but data would suggest to give the heifers a modified live vaccine for longer lasting protection against these viruses. The heifers should receive this vaccination at least one month before the start of the breeding season. This would also be a good time to include other reproductive disease protection that may be recommended by your veterinarian. Examples of other immunizations that should be considered include leptospirosis and campylobacter (sometimes called vibriosis).

Breed the heifers in a short breeding season:

Yearling replacement heifers should be mated with bulls or bred artificially in a short (42 to 45 day) breeding season. Some producers like to breed heifers starting about a month before the start of the breeding season for the mature cows. Breeding the heifers early is important for two reasons two possible reasons. Two-year old first calf cows normally take longer to return to heat cycles after calving than do older cows. Therefore if they calve early, then when they rebreed, they are in synchrony with the rest of the cows in the herd as they deliver their second calf. In addition, the manager can watch the heifers more closely early in the calving season and give them additional attention. They are the females most likely to need assistance at calving time. One draw-back is that this extends the length of the calving season.

Naturally, there are other health, nutritional, and management chores that must be attended to during the time prior to calving, but using these three concepts would aid greatly in improving productivity.