Economics | Forage | Horticulture | Livestock | Soils | Wildlife

What breed of cattle should I use?
The choice of which breed to use is usually governed by personal preference. But, for those coming into ranching with no preference, goals should be set as to what you would like the calves to look like and how you will market them. Do you have a color preference, i.e., black, red, smoky or spotted cattle? Do you want to make sure your calves will not have horns (Angus, Polled Hereford)? Will you be selling the calves off the cow, at the end of graze out, or will you retain ownership to the packinghouse door?  If you are not interested in retaining ownership, then you may want to use a performance breed that will maximize weaning and yearling weights, such as Charolais, Limousin or Simmental. If you plan to retain ownership of the calves, then you will need to balance the growth performance with carcass traits, and you may want to select a breed known for higher marbling characteristics such as Angus or Red Angus.

In general, for a commercial cattle producer in Noble’s service area, it is hard to beat a good solid black or black white-faced cow herd as the foundation of your operation. Then, you can select from a multitude of bull breeds to tailor the calf crop to your specifications. I encourage you to visit with a livestock specialist about cross breeding programs to take full advantage of hybrid vigor.

For related reading, see  http://www.noble.org/Ag/Livestock/Heterosis/index.html.

Should I raise my own replacement heifers?
This question can be answered differently for purebred and commercial producers.

Purebred producers will breed and raise their replacements in an effort to increase the quality of their programs. Most purebred producers have a definite goal in mind as to the pedigree (lineage) or expected progeny differences (EPDs) they are trying to achieve. Thus, trying to purchase the needed quantity of very high-quality heifers each year could be cost prohibitive.

In a typical commercial operation, which is less than several hundred head of cattle, raising replacements is often not efficient. To effectively produce high-quality females, a portion of the herd would have to be dedicated to production of females with good maternal traits, moderate frame score and moderate growth characteristics. Thus, in this scenario, growth traits would not be maximized and total pounds of weaned beef would be lost for the steers and the heifers that were not retained. Trying to maximize growth traits is extremely difficult while trying to select for the proper females that have good maternal traits and a moderate frame score. Conversely, if any of the retained heifers are out of an easy-calving type bull, their frame size may be too small.

Additionally, these replacement heifers are “taking up room” that a bred female could be using. You have to feed, care for and assume the risk of the heifer becoming sick and dying or not breeding prior to ever getting a calf out of her. In contrast, if you purchase a bred replacement female, someone else has already assumed these risks, and you will be able to have more productive females in your herd from year to year. Thus, your calving percentage will hold steadier over time.

Furthermore, in the raising of your own replacement heifers, all of the costs to get her to a productive cow have been expensed. Therefore, there is not a tax basis (book value) in these animals that is depreciable. The advantage in having depreciable assets is it can be a useful tool in managing your taxable income. Also, whenever these animals are sold, the entire sale price is a gain and the owner will have to pay capital gains tax on the full amount, whereas a purchased replacement will only incur a gain on the sale amount that is greater than the tax basis.

How many bulls do I need?
In a defined breeding season, a general rule is to place about the same number or cows or heifers with a young bull as his age in months. For example, a bull that is 18 months old would be expected to breed 18 cows during the breeding season.  Be especially careful using bulls younger than 18 months old.  Although healthy, well-developed yearling bulls can be used on a limited basis, they will need special management and nutritional considerations.  Most bulls are at least 18 months old prior to turn out.  Mature bulls can be placed with 25 to 35 cows and normally give good results. Make sure the bull has been through a breeding soundness exam prior to turn out and is in good overall health and body condition. You can have more cows per bull in the breeding pasture, but you will need to increase the length of your breeding season to ensure the bull has enough time to service all the cows.

Do I need to worry about nitrates for cattle?
Yes, during times of plant stress such as drought or low light conditions. Cattle are only susceptible to nitrates from certain types of forages and at certain times. Typically, our concern is focused on sorghum (sudan grasses or johnsongrass) or other annually planted grasses. But, nitrates can be present in many other plants, especially those that experience rapid growth after fertilization. It is impossible to tell from visual appraisal whether or not a plant has a high concentration of nitrates.

High nitrate concentrations are a concern to cattle producers because nitrate is converted to nitrite in the rumen at a faster rate than it can be converted to ammonia by the rumen bacteria. Nitrites are easily absorbed into the blood stream and bind with hemoglobin in the blood to form methemoglobin. Methemoglobin is not capable of carrying oxygen in the blood to the body tissues, which results in death via oxygen deprivation.

Hay laid down at a time when nitrate concentration is high could be dangerous to feed to livestock. Once grass is cut, any nitrate in the plant stem or leaf will remain there. Hay that is marginal or high in nitrate concentration can still be fed if it is mixed, preferably ground and mixed, with hay that has a low concentration. An analysis of the mixed hay would be advisable to ensure a tolerable level has been achieved. Refer to the table below for acceptable levels of nitrates in forages or request the Oklahoma State University Extension Fact Sheet F-2903, Nitrate Toxicity in Livestock.

Quick tests are available for nitrates, but there are some inherent problems when using them. The first problem is that they are not quantitative. Rather than giving an answer of how high the concentration is, it will only confirm the presence of the substance. Secondly, the presence of nitrates can and will change rapidly. In essence, you could take a sample of your forage, determine it is safe one day, and by the time the cattle are turned out into the pasture, you may have a problem. Additionally, the test is only relative to the small sample collected at that time and does not represent the entire field.

For more information you may also refer to these articles:
Nitrate Poisoning,
Drought-Induced Poisonings are Dangerous to Livestock,
and Rethinking Nitrate and Prussic Acid "Quick" Tests.

Should I implant calves?
The answer to this question is a simple "yes" at branding time (if you are not participating in any natural or organic beef marketing program). Implanting calves at branding time (spring working) will increase weaning weights that should pay at least 10 times (and often up to 20 times) the cost of the implant. Using the correct implant at branding will not adversely affect maturity of heifers that are intended to be used as replacements. You may elect not to implant your heifers, but, at the very least, implanting of the steers should be done. If you do not plan to retain the heifers as replacements, then they should be implanted as well.

The answer is a little more clouded at weaning time. If you don't plan to hold the cattle long enough after weaning, i.e., onto winter or summer pasture, typically you will not have enough time to realize the cost of the implant. A heifer that is intended for breeding purposes should never be implanted at weaning.

Also, it is essential that you use the correct implant at the correct time. Make sure to use an implant that is labeled for the proper class of cattle while calves are nursing and on pasture. This will usually be labeled on the name with the letter designation "G" or "C," which stand for "grass" and "calf," respectively. Be sure to read the label on any implants (and drugs, for that matter) before use. For more information, please refer to: Implants and Implant Strategies

What kind of mineral should I have out for my cattle?
Typically, a good 12-12 or 10-10 "red" trace mineral is appropriate for most classes of cattle most times of the year. An exception to this might be during times of the year when forage is lush and rapidly growing. At that time, it may be necessary to have a mineral out that is labeled as a "high mag" or "high magnesium" to help alleviate any problems with grass tetany, primarily in lactating cows. If you have experienced grass tetany problems in the past, begin feeding the high-mag mineral a month or so before the spring flush. Minerals can be made available either loose or as a block. When this mineral is available, there is no need to also provide white or yellow (sulfur) salt. The red mineral usually contains all the salt cattle need, and if they eat the extra salt instead of the mineral, they may not consume the amount of mineral they need. Conversely, loose or block salt can be added if the cattle are over-consuming the mineral. Some people prefer to feed a mineral with an insect growth regulator during the summer to control flies. In most situations, it is more economical to use a fly rub or wipe. Additionally, minerals can be used to deliver medications such as chlortetracycline (CTC), which is labeled for anaplasmosis. Your veterinarian can tell you if this is needed in your area. A mineral program does not have to be complicated. Just be sure to always keep fresh mineral available.

What is terminal breeding or a terminal cross?
Terminal breeding, for our use and purpose, is crossing a cow of one breed type with a very unrelated breed type of bull. This helps maximize heterosis or hybrid vigor. The cross is made with the intent of maximizing the growth of the offspring, therefore maximizing the pounds of calf produced and sold. These calves are not intended to be kept for replacements to go back into a herd, which is why it is called a terminal cross. An example of a terminal cross is crossing an English-based breed of cow with a continental breed of bull. For further reading, see Heterosis... Hype or Legit?

Where can I get bulls and cows?
The best way to answer this question may be to suggest where not to get bulls and cows. It is usually recommended that you do not purchase replacement bulls or cows at the local weekly auction barn. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as when it is a cataloged sale or a special sale with all the animals being sold specifically as replacements. Otherwise, if you are expecting to pick up a good replacement female or bull at the sale barn, keep in mind there is usually a reason it is already there - it probably was somebody else's problem. To that end, locate and purchase your replacements only from reputable ranches that have good programs in place to develop cattle specifically for replacements. If you need help finding these sources, don't hesitate to contact a Noble livestock specialist.

For further reading, see: Plan Replacement Female Purchases