Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59182
Title: MANAGEMENT OF COWS FOR HIGH REPRODUCTIVE RATES

Author
item Short, Robert
item Bellows, Robert
item Staigmiller, Robert
item Grings, Elaine
item BERARDINELLI, J - MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Beef Improvement Federation Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Anestrus is one of the major problems that has the potential to lower fertility in beef cattle. Suckling and poor nutrition are the main causes of anestrus. Solving nutritional problems and using condition scores to monitor nutritional status can partially overcome anestrus, but other management decisions can also reduce the negative effects of suckling and nutritionally induced anestrus. Shortening breeding seasons to <_45 days, using appropriate weaning times, synchronizing estrus with a treatment that includes a progestin, using a teaser bull before the breeding season and minimizing dystocia are all management options which can decrease the effects of anestrus. Depending on forage availability and quality, weaning age and protein supplementation in the fall can be considered to manipulate forage utilization and body condition score. The decision of whether to include any of these options should include an assessment of the value of the increased production potential in relationship to the anticipated cost of implementing these practices.