Page 11 - MWC 9-15-2022s2

Be Prepared for More Open Cows The Midwest Cattleman · September 15, 2022 · P11

By Dr. Les Anderson, Extension Professor, University of Kentucky
Shew, it’s been a rough sum- nosed by taking a blood sample breeding sea-
mer. On top of high fuel costs, and either mailing the samples son. What op-
current inflation, and high to a diagnostic lab or by using tions does a
input costs, beef producers the new chute-side blood test producer have
have had to deal with drought kit from IDEXX (test is called if a breeding di-
and extreme heat. Heat stress Alertys and they are available saster occurs?
is normal for cattle in Ken- from most veterinary supply If you have a
tucky because most of our cat- companies). The blood tests are split calving
tle graze endophyte-infected accurate but consultation with season or calve
fescue but the early onset this your herd veterinarian is al- year-round, the
summer may cause some se- ways recommended. decision to keep or cull open fe- season. The decision is harder
rious issues with pregnancy Pregnancy rate can dip to as males is a little easier. Simply if you only have cows calving in
rates and calving rates. low as 50-60% when prolonged roll cows younger than 5 years the spring. Currently, cull cow
Heat stress has profound heat stress occurs during the old over to the next breeding continued on page 14
impacts on many biological
processes that can lead to
poor reproductive rates. Prior
to estrus, heat stress reduces
follicle growth, hormone pro- SOARING EAGLE OF THE OZARKS
duction, and oocyte (the egg)
competency. Combined, this re-
duces fertilization rates. Once
rd
fertilized, heat stress also re- 3 Annual We are offering:
duces the growth of the newly 18 MONTH 2 YEAR
formed embryo. This reduction FALL BULL SALE 45 OLD BULLS
in the growth of an embryo is 10 OLD BULLS
likely the result of increased SATURDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2022 | 1 PM AI BRED COMMERCIAL HEIFERS COMMERCIAL
cell death and/or a smaller cor- Springfield, MO. at the SEO Sale Facility 35 DUE LATE OCTOBER 30 FALL PAIRS
pus luteum (CL) that produces
less progesterone. This reduced
growth rate and increased ALL BULLS ARE PROMOGEN TESTED
embryonic cell death leads to
more embryos lost during the
first week of gestation. Unfor- SEO Promogen Score:
tunately, heat stress continues ULTRA PROVIDER 4.5 Selling 12 sons
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through the first 21 days which of SEO Ultra Provider
also increases the loss of these
early pregnancies.
Issues with heat stress con- #1 $B Sire
tinue throughout gestation. in the Angus Breed
Exposure of early pregnancies
(day 24-45) to heat stress re-
duces fetal growth and can re-
sult in the loss of up to 20% of SEO GVC
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THUNDER
these pregnancies. Heat stress THUNDER
reduces placental efficiency REG #: 20095926
meaning the placenta has a
reduced ability to deliver nu-
trients to the developing fetus.
Toward the end of pregnancy,
extreme heat stress can impact
placental hormone produc-
tion which can lead not only
to premature calving but also Selling as Lot 1
to drastically reduced develop-
ment of the mammary glands
impacting lactation. So, heat
stress impacts beef females
from the beginning to the end
of pregnancy. Ugh.
What does this mean for beef Marketing powered by Soaring Eagle
producers right now? First and The Judge Source LLC of the Ozarks
foremost, have pregnancy di- Joel Judge & Kourtney Judge Dr. Jeff Gower
agnosed in your herd. Contact 805.234.7191 • 480.322.1583 417.839.1200
your herd veterinarian to set thejudgesource@gmail.com drjeffgower@gmail.com
up a palpation or ultrasound.
Pregnancy can also be diag-