Page 19 - MWC 4-20-2023s

EARLY WEANING The Midwest Cattleman · April 20, 2023 · P19
continued from page 15 during the breeding season of cows with early weaned should be fed growing ra-
that followed as compared calves, 100% of those cows tions with targeted gains of 2
spring-born calves from thin to only 59% of the 2-year-old were rebred during breeding pounds to 2.5 pounds per day,
2-year-old cows, with body cows that were still nursing season. depending on frame size and
condition scores of either a calves throughout the breed- What To Do with The growth potential,” he adds.
3 or 4, had a positive impact ing season,” Selk says. Calves? “This size of calf would be
on the reproductive perfor- OSU did a follow-up study Early weaned, spring-born expected to eat about 3% of
mance of those young cows as on early weaning spring calves can be successful on a their bodyweight per day on
they went through the next calves from 4-year-old cows. good growing ration, accord- a dry matter basis, but the
breeding season. Selk says this group of cows ing to Beck. lighter calves require 18%
In the study, half of the was in a little better body “Early weaned calves can crude protein diets until they
calves were weaned early be- condition than the 2-year- be grown in dry lot very ef- weigh over 400 pounds.”
tween 45 and 60 days. With old group, with a body condi- ficiently with feed-to-gain ex-
the other half, the cows were tion score of a 4 or 5. Of the pected to be 4.5 pounds to 5
allowed to raise their calves 4-year-old cows allowed to pounds of feed per pound of
to about 7 months of age. “In nurse their calves through gain,” he says.
the early weaned group, the summer into fall, 81% “Because these calves are
97% of the cows were rebred were rebred. In the group smaller and immature, they

BREEDING SOUNDNESS
continued from page 18 WHY ARE WE STILL HERE AFTER MORE THAN 25 YEARS?

scrotal circumference less
than 34cm are considered
sub-fertile but breed specific
averages should be consid-
ered as some breeds may av-
erage below 34cm.The scro-
tum will also be palpated to
check for any masses in the
spermatic cords, testes, and
scrotal skin. It is important
that the testes are similar
in size and can move freely
within the scrotum.
Bulls that have no physi-
cal abnormalities are classi-
fied as “satisfactory poten-
tial breeders” if they meet
the minimum requirements
for scrotal circumference,
sperm motility and sperm
morphology. Bull’s that do
not meet the minimum re-
quirements will be classified
as “unsatisfactory potential

breeders.” MAKE SURE YOU ARE
Getting a BSE done on
your herd bull is the best IN OUR SPECIAL
way to ensure you have a
fertile and sound bull that
will add to your program for GELBVIEH
years to come. When we con-
sider the economic loss from FEATURE
having a sub-fertile bull on
the farm, it makes sense to AUGUST 10TH
make the initial investment 6TH
on a good bull that fits the
criteria we need and who
also passes the BSE and is
identified as a satisfactory
potential breeder.

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