National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

2. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Introduction

3. Welcome • Welcome to “Prevention Programs and Technologies to Improve Reproductive Performance” • This training module will: • Help you better manage and reduce your herd’s reproductive losses • Introduce you to appropriate prevention strategies and reproductive technologies

4. Module Contents • References to documents providing additional / expanded information • Review sections with activities to check your understanding of topics presented

5. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Key Performance Measures

6. Key Performance Measures • Is there is a need to improve reproductive performance? • Preventing and managing herd reproductive losses can make huge differences in yearly profitability • After completing this lesson, you will be able to: • Evaluate herd performance data needed to measure reproductive performance • Calculate key performance measures

7. Record Keeping “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” • Impossible to reverse losses once they’ve occurred • Keeping key herd production records: • Provides baseline data required to see if reproductive performance is where it should be • Helps identify herd strengths and weaknesses • Helps make good management decisions resulting in future improvements

8. Record Keeping (continued) • You may already track and record herd data. Are you using those numbers to help pinpoint losses? Look at this sample data from the Peterson Ranch. With this information alone, you can calculate some of your herd’s key reproductive performance measures.

9. Performance Measures • With the current baseline data, you can calculate: • Pregnancy Percent • Calving Percent • Weaned Calf Crop Percent • Pounds Weaned per Female Exposed • Calving Distribution • An efficient herd • The investment made in cost of production turns into a return, or profit. • An inefficient herd • The returns from calf sales may simply offset the costs of production.

10. Pregnancy Percent - Conception Rate • Number of cows that actually conceived a calf after being exposed to the bull • Low pregnancy percentage means: • Fewer calves on the ground to sell • Money must be spent to maintain cows that won’t provide any return

11. Calving Percent • Number of cows that actually gave birth to a live calf • Lower calving rate than pregnancy rate is significant • Losses occurring during gestation or at calving • Money being spent to maintain cows that won’t produce a calf to sell

12. Weaned Calf Crop Percent • Number of cows that fail to wean a live calf • Can be calculated even if regular pregnancy checks not performed • Cost same to feed and require same amount of labor as cows that do wean a calf • Producers see no return from non-productive cows • Determine calves lost between calving and weaning • Compare percentages of calving and weaned calf crop • If excessive calf loss, troubleshoot to find the cause

13. Pounds Weaned per Female Exposed • Pounds weaned per female exposed • Factors in production costs with generated return • If measure is too low, directly affects profitability • Key indicator of herd reproductive performance issues that may require management changes

14. Number of calves born alive in each 21-day period In this example, most of the herd’s calves were born in the 3rd period Calving Distribution Charts

15. Calving Distribution Charts These calves are 35-40 lbs lighter than calves born in the first 21 days. These calves will be older at weaning and have the heaviest weaning weights. These calves may be up to 120 lbs lighter than calves born in the first 21 days.

16. Ideal Calving Distribution

17. Poor Calving Distribution

18. Comparing Calving Distributions 56,600 lbs weaned 48,400 lbs weaned - 8,200 lbs

19. Constructing a Calving Distribution Chart Step 1: Count and record the number of mature cows calving.

20. Constructing a Calving Distribution Chart Step 2: Circle the third mature cow calving.

21. Constructing a Calving Distribution Chart Step 3: Count down 21 days from when the 3rd cow calved and draw a line.

22. Calving Distribution • Calculating production measures helps identify herd performance improvements. • Pregnancy and Calving Percents directly relate to performance issues. • Too many open cows • Too many calves lost during gestation or calving • Weaned Calf Crop Percent and Pounds Weaned per Female Exposed relate to herd efficiencies. Helps determine: • If cows are getting pregnant early enough in the season • Health or nutrition problems that require management changes • This data helps reduce reproductive and financial losses.

23. Calving Distribution Activity • Let’s practice! • Open your Calving Distribution spreadsheet • Sample data • Calculate your own data • What did you learn from your calving distribution? • Does your distribution seem to be improving from year to year? • What could be the cause of poor distribution?

24. Key Performance Measures Summary • In most cases, data collected in the Red Book or BRS Book can be used to calculate: • Pregnancy percent • Calving percent • Weaned calf crop percent • Pounds weaned per female exposed • Calving distribution

25. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Benchmarking

26. Comparative Analysis: Benchmarking • In this lesson, you’ll learn: • How to conduct a comparative analysis • Step-by-step comparison of the herd’s production data with the production facts from other herds in the region • To assess the herd’s strengths and weaknesses.

27. Benchmark Data Overview • To successfully use herd records and production measures, compare them to some kind of standard or point of reference • See where you are “beating” the standards and where the standards are “beating” you • Known as benchmarking, or conducting a comparative analysis • Helps quickly identify areas of herd strength, weakness, and opportunity

28. Benchmark Data Overview (continued) • Many farms and ranches don’t use benchmark herd data • Benchmark data, like Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) is more available now • The Beef Cattle SPA page on the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension site • The SPA records page on the Iowa State Extension site Where can you find benchmark data?

29. Benchmark Data Overview (continued) • It’s easy to become overwhelmed by a benchmark summary report. This course will review the production data only.

30. Comparative Analysis • You are the final decision maker when it comes to determining your herd’s strengths and weaknesses. • There may be unique circumstances that make your herd’s performance differences a logical variation rather than a sign of weakness. • Conducting a comparative analysis is a great way to identify potential strengths and weaknesses so you can make better future management decisions.

31. Comparative Analysis: Benchmarking Summary • Comparing a herd’s production data to benchmark data allows: • Assessment of how the herd is doing • Where improvements can be made • Production measures simple to calculate with current herd production records • Recognize improvement opportunities for the reproductive performance of the herd

32. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Performance Improvement Strategies

33. Performance Improvement Strategies • What is the best action to take to reduce or manage potential herd weaknesses? • In this lesson, you will learn about: • Factors that influence reproductive performance • How these factors relate to performance measures • How implementing a balanced management strategy can help prevent losses

34. Five Key Influencers • Identify areas for improvement • Understand what items contribute to good reproductive performance: • Nutrition • Environment • Genetics • Health • Handling

35. Nutrition • Nutrition affects reproduction: • Inability to return to heat after calving • Slow rebreeding performance or inability to rebreed • Poor milk production and weaker calves • Slow fetal growth • Calves with low birth weights • Low weaning weights • Calf death loss • Poor nutrition also affects beef production. • High nutrition levels can lead to over conditioning and high feed costs.

36. Environment • Environmental conditions impact herd reproductive performance and play key role in nutrition • Droughts and storms directly affect availability and quality of feedstuffs • Muddy conditions drag down cow condition and affect nutritional requirements • Temperature extremes stress cows and reduce fertility • Herd reproductive performance impacted most when conditions occur soon after breeding, during fetal development of calf

37. Environment (continued) • During extreme heat or drought conditions • Make sure cows have access to shade and adequate air movement. • Provide plenty of cool water • Don’t force recently inseminated cows to stand in treeless, dry lot situations • Avoid working or stressing cattle during hottest times of the day • During cold, wet or windy conditions • Be diligent about checking cows for signs of calving • Make sure cows calve in clean, well-drained calving location with windbreaks or woods • Use commercial calf blankets to increase calf survivability

38. Genetics • Genetics can have a major impact on herd reproductive performance • Directly impact heifer development • Timing of first heat • Fertility • Ability to carry a healthy calf to full term • Ease of birthing • Milking ability • How soon the cow comes back into heat after calving

39. Genetics (continued) • Performing Breeding Soundness Exams (BSE) prior to breeding season helps evaluate overall quality and effectiveness of bulls • Helps assess bull for characteristics / right traits to pass on to heifers and cows • Ask beef cattle veterinarian to conduct annual BSE on all breeding bulls • Implementing Artificial Insemination (AI) introduces higher quality genetics from outside the herd • Opportunity to use bulls possessing superior genetics • Economically feasible • Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) allows selection of sire

40. Herd Health • The effects health has on reproductive performance are less obvious • When a cow’s health is sub-par, certain diseases impact cow productivity • Timing of heat • Ability to carry a healthy calf to full term • Body condition • Milking ability • Ability to come back into heat after calving • The introduction of new cows (or bulls) to the breeding herd, clothing, equipment, and vehicles can be disease agents.

41. Herd Health (continued) How can you manage herd health to improve performance? • Develop comprehensive herd health program • Improves herd’s ability to resist disease • Preventive medicine in preparation of future challenges • Utilize biosecurity and biocontainment protocols to reduce introduction and spread of disease agents • Control / eliminate diseases already present • Disease prevention • Disease immunity

42. Handling / Transportation • How cows are handled can affect their reproductive performance • Poor handling can result in stressed animals • Reduced conception rates • Limit cow’s ability to carry a calf to full-term • Increase interval between calving and return to heat

43. Handling / Transportation (continued) • For appropriate handling: • Implement protocols outlined in state Beef Quality Assurance programs • Adopt team management approach

44. Performance Measures

45. Diagnosing a Problem • Identify causes of poor reproductive performance • Design balanced management strategies to improve results • Use these diagnostic tips to effectively find problems: • Observe cattle • Keep detailed records • Communicate frequently with your management team

46. Performance Improvement Strategies Summary • Key influencers of a herd’s performance include: • Nutrition • Environment • Genetics • Herd Health • Handling and Transportation • Relate to each other and affect each other • Effect key performance measures and impact bottom line • It is important to properly diagnose source of the issue and balance management approach. • Using a balanced management approach helps improve reproductive and production performance.

47. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Technologies

48. Technologies • Reproductive technologies • Another option to enhance a herd’s reproductive performance • After completing this lesson, you will be able to identify technologies to help prevent loss and improve reproductive efficiencies.

49. Why Technology? • Producers today have many options when it comes to technologies. • Technologies require proper implementation and attention to detail in order to be useful. • Improper implementation of technology can cause increased costs and frustration. • Proper planning and implementation strategies are necessary to receive full benefits technologies can provide.

50. Identify Herd Goals • Improving reproductive management through adoption and successful implementation of reproductive technologies • Adds value to a herd and increases long-term profitability • Identify goals before choosing or evaluating improvement technologies • What are you trying to accomplish?