Profit Related to Reproductive Performance

Achieving optimum reproductive performance is a key component to maximizing profit potential of the cow herd. Managing the cow herd to ensure a cow has a calf every 365 days is the benchmark for optimum reproductive performance. Management practices, cow body condition, level of nutrition, age of cow, milk production, weather, and herd health all impact reproduction performance.

Of these factors, body condition at calving is the single most important factor influencing when a cow will cycle after calving. Body condition is correlated with several reproductive events such as:

• Postpartum interval

• Services per conception

• Calving interval

• Milk production

• Weaning weight

• Calving difficulty

• Calf survival

These events can greatly affect net income (Table 1). To maximize net income and assure optimum reproductive performance, cows should have an optimum body condition score of 5-6 during stage 3 (calving through breeding).

Optimizing Reproductive Performance

Heifers encounter first time stresses of calving and lactation while still growing, making attainment of optimum reproductive performance more challenging compared to mature brood cows. Failure to rebreed following birth of the first calf is the primary reason for heifer culling, one of the leading profit robbers of a beef cattle operation.

Research shows feeding supplemental vegetable-based fat to first and second calf heifers 50-60 days prior to calving has a positive impact on reproductive performance and can improve calf weaning weights (Table 2). Trial diets were balanced for the same energy and protein levels with the only difference being the addition of vegetable fat. Figure 1 also illustrates another research trial that supports the inclusion of vegetable fat in heifer diets. Both studies showed reproductive performance improved when vegetable fat was added to heifer diets.

Additional research using supplemental vegetable fat in diets was conducted over a two-year time period (Table 3).) Feeding supplemental vegetable fat also increased calf birth weight and slightly increased calving ease score.

Vegetable Fat Supplementation Guidelines

Vegetable-Based Fat Products Can Help Achieve Optimum Reproductive Performance in Brood Cow Herds

• H.F.R.S 20/8-15, (33 1/3 lb block)

• H.F.R.S 20/8-15 (250 lb tub)

• H.F.R.S 30/20 (meal)

• H.F.R.S 20/20 (meal)

• H.F.R.S 18/8 (cube)

• H.F.R.S. Mintrate^® XL 18/16 (tub)