Profitability Isn’t Random

By Brandi Buzzard Frobose, Director of Communications and Editor

Any cow-calf producer will attest that the cow is the bedrock of the business. It’s right there in the word: cow herd. Individual cows may have a limited impact on the profitability of a herd, however collectively, when the cow herd is more productive, producers are more profitable.

In a time where margins are tight and input costs are constantly rising, it’s important for every female to contribute positively to the herd. Females that don’t breed back or require extra management due to dystocia or other health challenges are ultimately wasting resources that could be utilized by other more efficient and productive females. Heifers play a significant role in the profitability of an operation and much hangs on their ability to get pregnant, wean a calf and breed back quickly in order to stay in the herd.

Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., assistant professor and state cow-calf specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri, attests that successful heifer development and retention isn’t just “luck of the draw.” keting opportunities for Red Angus females and create reliable sources of high-quality replacement heifers for cattle producers.

“If we can get heifers to stay in the herd and be great cows, that’s not luck. It’s management and genetics. The cost associated with cows falling out of the herd and not breeding back is second only to feed costs,” said Thomas. “We reap what we sow as managers, and profitability isn’t random,” he added.

Red Choice embraces proven reproductive and genetic management practices which, in turn, lead to high-quality, long-lasting females that are ready to hit the ground running in commercial herds. Much of the rationale for Red Choice is based upon the success of heifer development programs like the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program from the University of Missouri.

Nolan Woodruff, RAAA commercial marketing specialist, explained the necessity for Red Choice.

Recognizing the importance of profitability to the sustainability of a cow herd, and to continue providing support and marketing avenues to commercial cattle producers, RAAA developed and launched the Red Choice program to promote improved heifer development, increase mar-

“Red Choice sets a standard for breeding, using advanced technology, sire selection and documentation of individual breeding. It was created to allow those producing females to be more profitable and for those who are buying Red Choice heifers to be confident that those females have been managed properly and have a higher

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Profitability Isn’t

Random retention rate, thus making the buyer more profitable,” he said.

“The University of Missouri has proven that females that are raised using these management practices and bred using the required criteria are more valuable producers,” added Woodruff.

To be included in the program and eligible for the Red Choice designation, heifers must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Vaccinations at calfhood, weaning and prebreeding for common diseases including, but not limited to; Bangs, IBR, BVD, PI 3, BRSV, leptospirosis (5-way) and 7-way clostridia

• Prebreeding examination and a minimum pelvic area of 150 cm2

• AI and bull exposure dates must be provided, as well as method of estrous synchronization (if applicable)

• Pregnancy exam within 90 days of the start of breeding season

Additionally, as one of the program’s main pillars is to significantly reduce dystocia problems, genetic requirements are implemented as well. Eligible sires must have a known ID, be registered with the RAAA, be Category 1A, 1B or II and have complete EPD information. All sires, AI or natural service, must be a minimum of 14 for CED and have GE-EPDS.

Noticeably, the vaccination schedule and numerous exams lend themselves to multiple appointments with producers’ veterinarians, which in turn should improve the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

While the increased touchpoints may seem burdensome at first, there is little argument against the positive impacts the Red Choice management process has on the value of program heifers, both to the profitability and