Breeding season: Day 1 –- Are your cows bred?

By Bruce Smith, COBA/Select Sires

Can your bull get more than half your cows PREGNANT on the first day of the breeding season? He can’t, but you can by using a synchronization program with artificial insemination (A.I.). The benefits listed below, can help position your herd for success:

• Increased pregnancy rates

• Increased weaning weights

• Use predictable genetics

• Improve uniformity

• Increased cow productivity

Looking at each benefit independently will help you understand the value that a well-managed synchronization program can bring to the overall productivity of your herd.

You increase pregnancy rates by synchronizing your cows. Each animal synchronized will have 3 heats and therefore 3 chances to be bred in the first 45 days of the breeding season. A well-managed herd with compliance to the selected synchronization protocol should achieve at least a 50% pregnancy rate to the first A.I. service. Also, the synchronization program will induce estrus in some anestrous females that may then get bred earlier than left to cycle on their own. As a result of breeding them earlier, they calve earlier and then those females will have a longer post-partum interval and therefore breed back in a timelier manner in the next breeding season. Offering more long-term benefits to a synchronization program.

Earlier born calves are also heavier at weaning, which will add to the bottom line. Research shows that on average a synchronized herd will gain

13 calf days for every calf born in the herd. The yield for those additional days is 13 calf days times 2.7 pounds of average gain per day equals an additional 35lbs per calf. This additional gain times a feeder calf value of $1.80 per lb. would add an additional $63 per calf.

Using predictable genetics is a significant advantage of using artificial insemination to improve your cattle productivity. This is done by using highly proven sires with genomic Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). Using these EPDs will also aid a producer to better hit their target market. It is important to know what your herd goals are so that you can choose the EPDs that will move the herd forward to the desired target market. As an example, if your goal is to market feeder calves and keep no females back, a terminal index should be selected. If, keeping some replacements, you may start with a maternal index. Most breeds have an index that has more maternal influence versus an index that is designed for a more feed or terminal application. In the Angus breed, if retaining females and selling the rest of calves at weaning, you may choose $M (maternal) versus $W (weaning) if selling all feeder calves. Also, by using a highly proven A.I. sire you can have more confidence in the sire providing the desired outcome. All reported progeny of a bull influences his EPDs, so as he adds more progeny data the accuracy continues to improve. With a higher accuracy, you can have more confidence in a more predictable outcome.

Using artificial insemination with a synchronization program will significantly improve the uniformity of each year’s calf crop. The use of a synchronization program yields more than 50% of the calves being born in the first few days of the calving season. This allows for more uniformity due to more calves being the same age and of similar weight. The balance of the calves will be closer in age and weight due to having three chances of the cows being bred in the first 45 days of the breeding season. Selecting a small number of sires for your breeding program, the calves will also be more uniform in color.

Increased cow productivity is due to calves being born earlier in the breeding season. Heifers retained are more likely to conceive earlier in their first breeding season as well. This will result in a higher lifetime profitability of the cow due to more likely continuing to breed earlier in each successive breeding season. Research funded by Select Sires at Colorado State University showed heifers conceiving to A.I. rather than natural service as yearlings weaned an additional 963 pounds of calf during their lifetime. With a value of $1.80 per lb., this equates to an additional $1,733 due to the use of A.I. and synchronization.

A sound synchronization program with the use of A.I. will increase pregnancy weights, weaning weights, and by using predictable genetics you will improve uniformity and cow productivity. Know where you want to go and use the available tools to get you there. We will meet you on the road to success.