Page 26 - MWC 02-04-2021s

PREPARING The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P26
continued from page 7
calving can boost reproductive how many cattlemen still do cally, mature cows in good BCS the cows with progesterone for
performance. not vaccinate their cow herd will be anestrus for 45-90 days 7 days prior to bull exposure.
Dystocia (calving problems) against reproductive diseas- (avg about 60 days) while first- Sources of progesterone include
can severely delay the onset of es. Several diseases are asso- calf heifers will be in anestrus the feed additive melenge-
estrus after calving. Research ciated with reproductive loss for 75-120 days. Research has strol acetate (MGA) or an EA-
shows that for every hour a fe- (lepto, BVD, vibrio, trich, etc). shown that only 64% of mature ZI-Breed CIDRÆ insert (Zoetis
male is in stage 2 active labor The main problem is that most cows have initiated estrous cy- Animal Health). Both sourc-
there is a four-day delay in the reproductive loss due to dis- cles about 70 days after calving es induce estrus in anestrous
resumption of estrous cycles ease is subtle and producers while 50% of first calf heifers cows and exposure of anestro-
after calving. Early interven- don’t notice the loss unless have initiated estrous cycles us cows to progesterone for 7
tion helps; 16% more cows con- they have a massive failure. at nearly 90 days after calv- days before bull exposure will
ceived when cows were assisted Most cattlemen are not aware ing. Let’s consider the impact not reduce fertility. Pregnancy
within 90 minutes of the start of their losses due to abortion of anestrus and calving date for rates increase in these females
of calving. The best method is to until the cow(s) simply fails to a herd that calves from March because inducing estrus will
reduce the incidence of dystocia calve. Work with your local vet- 1 until May 10. Bull turnout increase the number of oppor-
via selection, but early calving erinarian to develop an annual is May 20 and the length of tunities these cows have to con-
assistance will increase the op- vaccination plan to enhance re- anestrus for mature cows is 60 ceive in the breeding season.
portunity of cows to rebreed. productive success. days and for young cows is 90 Managing for reproductive
One overlooked manage- Lastly, develop a plan to days. A mature cow that calves success begins at calving. Cows
ment tool that can improve enhance the rebreeding po- on March 1 will begin to cycle need to calve with a minimum
reproductive performance is tential of first-calf heifers and on May 1 and is highly likely BCS of 5 and with little assis-
breeding soundness exams in late-calving cows. Young cows to conceive early. However, the tance. Implement an effective
bulls. Think of breeding sound- and late-calving cows have one mature cow that calves on April vaccination program and create
ness exams as breeding season characteristic in common that 20 won’t cycle until June 20 a plan to minimize the length
insurance. These exams are will greatly impact their re- and her opportunity to conceive of the anestrous period in cows
a low-cost method of insur- productive success: anestrus. early is very limited. A first- that are likely to be problem
ing that your bull is capable After each calving, cows under- calf heifer that calves on April breeders. Planning now will
of breeding. Examine bulls for go a period of time when they 20 won’t begin to cycle until help increase the probability of
breeding soundness about 30 do not come into estrus. This July 20 and will have limited a successful breeding season.
days before they are turned out. anestrus period can be as short opportunities to conceive. Cat-
I have worked in repro- as 17 days but can also last as tlemen can reduce the anestro-
ductive management for over long as 150 days depending us period by fenceline exposure
25 years and it amazes me upon a number of factors. Typi- to a mature bull or by treating

“Th
“Thee
Kind”
Kind”

RED AN
RED ANGUSGUS
BULL SALE Apr. 3, 2021
BULL SALE Apr. 3, 2021
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R Reedd AAnngguuss..

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Selling 65
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And
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