ALIGNING REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGY

Sometimes during the adventure of a cow-calf producer’s chosen occupation, for whatever reason, a change in direction is required. It could constitute a minor tweak such as swapping out the brand of protein supplement used or be as major as converting bull power to a completely different breed with the cow herd following suit. No matter the degree of shift, it can be anxiety laden with family finances hanging in the balance.

Jordan Thomas, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, University of Missouri and state specialist in beef reproduction, urges producers to consider their goals and the context in which they are trying to achieve them. “The first question is always—why? When implementing a plan and being willing to go through all the work, you need to know what’s at the end of the tunnel.”

Of course, environment and weather, location, infrastructure and resources all limit the amount of change possible. Further restrictions such as livestock health, animal stress management, nutrition, structure and confirmation, plus an awareness of body condition are cornerstones that cannot be ignored or simply bypassed when pursuing change. So, the question could be posed—what does that leave and where should a producer begin? Making Reproductive Strategy the First Choice

Thomas says reproduction strategies are the perfect place to start while keeping those cornerstones in position. “Consider the forage space you have available, when that peak availability and quality takes place, and find a calving season that really, truly on paper makes sense. Align your peak nutritional demand—the period of highest lactation of those cows—with the forage research. Sometimes you’ll see it referred to as calving in sync with nature and for most producers, it’s going to be the most profitable opportunity because it’s the lowest cost opportunity to run.”

He urges cattlemen attempting to change the core of their breeding herd by adding females to be mindful of breeding timeliness. With a desired calving season in place, ranchers should consider the logistics of their management system. He says buying or raising animals to calve toward the later end of the preferred calving season means their likelihood of turning around and becoming pregnant in the next breeding season is extremely low. “For an animal to maintain a 365-day season of having a calf every year with a 283-day gestation, she’s got to by Bruce Derksen

continued on page 70

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get pregnant again in about 90 days. That’s difficult. A high bar to maintain a short breeding season.”

Thomas says reproductive technologies can be a useful conduit to accomplish very distinct plans for cow-calf operators. Whether trying to generate cost per animals for straight bred cattle or tailoring distinctive sires to different females, reproductive technologies can be the driving force in realizing genetic goals.

“I think commercial producers really have the same reproductive goal which is to have a defined length of calving season with as many calves born as early as possible in that season. This doesn’t necessarily mean born as early as possible in the calendar year, but as early as possible in the calving season that you feel works best for your operation and environment.” Applying Reproductive Strategy to Multiple Variations

For example, he says when selecting and marketing replacement heifers, data shows a huge advantage in having them born early. “Again, not early in the year, but early in the calving season, whether it starts in January or May. It really is advantageous if heifers are as old as possible within the context of the program, as their age is a large part of what allows them to be cyclic and hit puberty by the start of their first breeding season. It is associated with how early they conceive and their longevity in the herd as productive functional females.” Further examples are the marketing of yearling steers, grass fed beef or retaining ownership through the finishing stage as opposed to direct marketing weaned calves. “I’m not sure those goals are really any different. There may be different enterprises, but the cow/calf enterprise still has to be as productive and profitable as possible.” Managing reproductive practices is key to accomplishing these goals.

Thomas admits there is no ‘one size fits all’ breeding program as the best genetics are specific to individual operations, but he continued from page 68

continued on page 72 It is advantageous if heifers are as old as possible within the context of the program, as their age is a large part of what allows them to be cyclic and hit puberty by the start of their first breeding season. It is associated with how early they conceive and their longevity in the herd as productive functional females.

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suggests the use of reproductive technologies can be a significant piece. “Really, it’s about profitability. If possible, the routine commitment to the use of estrus synchronization, ideally with artificial insemination, year in and year out. And along with that, the commitment to having a defined breeding season. And finally, marketing and culling open or late conceiving animals while keeping early conceiving replacement heifers. If you package those three things together, it results in such a productive herd in terms of pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed, and it really pushes all these production methods we know are associated with profitability in the right direction.”

Creating the Snowball Effect over Time

Thomas says breeding strategies are inherently a gradual process over time. “I like people to think of it as a positive snowball effect. We’re used to thinking of snowball effects as a negative with the snowball running downhill and getting bigger and bigger. Reproduction is one of the few situations in agriculture where we have the potential to set up a snowball that really works in a positive way.”

He sees the combination of a shortened breeding season and culling females conceiving late, working together to create a more precise calving season each year. “Even if I just make that commitment every year, I am setting up this positive snowball. And the major opportunity to really get things going even faster is to use reproductive technology such as synchronization of estrus. Whether we use AI or not, just the use of estrus synchronization can jump start some of these animals, allowing them to conceive earlier in the breeding program, thereby getting the snowball moving even faster year to year.”

For cow-calf operators to first identify and then employ small tweaks or major changes to their operations, Thomas urges them to start with the reproductive side while steering the basics of conditioning, nutrition and health. “You may be looking at different traits, at different breeds or different lines tailored for certain goals, but ultimately the reproductive performance goal is always maximum attainment of pregnancy as early as possible while controlling costs in a profitable way.”

It’s one of the few investment options available to farmers and ranchers, providing on-going gains in both performance and profitability and satisfying the need for change in the first place.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bruce Derksen has worked in Western Canada’s ranching and feedlot industry for more than 30 years. In his spare time, he writes about present day agriculture related topics, hoping to give today’s producers as much up to date information about the future of the industry as possible.

CATTLE FEEDING RETURNS

Estimated cattle-feeding returns tend to be quite variable; this year looks like it will bring more of the same. Assuming a cattle feeder sells the same number of animals each month, the balance of 2020 is expected to mostly be profitable, even with the recent collapse in cash fed-steer prices. On average, February’s estimated closeout profitability was not as good as expected just a month ago and came in below January’s.

The Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) has been estimating monthly cattle-feeding returns since the mid1970s. Those estimates assume feeding out a 750-pound steer in a commercial Southern Plains feedlot and include all costs of production. The estimates are not survey-based and presume normal weather conditions. Cash prices are used (i.e., fed-cattle prices and feedstuff costs are not hedged).

In 2019, those monthly returns averaged about $9.50 per steer, ranging from $180.92 for an animal sold in December down to -$152.85 for September. During the prior five years (2014-2018), the annual average was about $23.00 per steer. The 10-year average was about -$7.00. On average, for steers closed out during January of this year, the LMIC estimated profitability at $150.00 to $151.00 per head. Read the full March 3 report online at www.dailylivestockreport.com.

—Adapted from a report by Len Steiner, Steiner Consulting Group.

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