News release issued April 29, 2001, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Spring Clean Your Breeding Program

ARDMORE, Okla. -- Spring is in the air, and green-up on native and introduced pasture is occurring across the region. Producers are hoping that winter forage will be adequate until summer pastures are ready to graze.

"From a forage quality standpoint, your cattle should be in good shape for the next couple of months, assuming forage quantity is not limiting," said Evan Whitley, a livestock specialist with the Noble Foundation. "However, there are a few spring-cleaning issues that you may want to consider for your livestock operation.

"For you spring-calving producers, breeding season is rapidly approaching, which means bull turnout is right around the corner. The length of the turnout is primarily based on the desired calving-season length and is usually between forty-five and ninety days."

Typically, a bull is judged by how many females (at least 90 percent) were bred within the specific breeding season.

Is this a true indication of a job well done, or could he do better and should you ask more of him? Only individual record keeping can indicate a good or poor job.

"Although grading a bull on conception rate is very important, it is not the final justification for a passing grade," Whitley said. "The specific time (early versus late) conception occurred is also important."

Females that conceive early calve early, and these calves will be older and potentially heavier at weaning. Furthermore, cows that breed early return to estrus earlier in subsequent breeding seasons. Extension publications from Oklahoma State and Texas A&M Universities indicate that calves born early can be 50 to 75 pounds heavier.

"Regardless of your herd size, if you implement a defined breeding season, this concept is important because it requires little additional management or cost," Whitley said. "Primary concerns are the nutrition and health of the breeding herd and all animals’ physical readiness for the breeding season."

It is important to monitor nutritional needs throughout the year. Recovering lost body condition just before the breeding season is costly. Poor nutrition hinders rebreeding efficiency; therefore, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In addition, observing your animals for structural and reproductive correctness can prove beneficial even a few months before the breeding season.

Another area of importance is a breeding soundness exam on all bulls before turnout. Besides detecting obvious physical defects such as in the eyes and legs, the exam evaluates bull(s) for reproductive tract (such as testes and penis) defects and semen quality. A thorough examination by a trained veterinarian will increase the probability that exposed females in good condition will conceive not only within the breeding season but also earlier in it, which could mean greater returns at weaning.

"Many factors can cause low conception rates early in the breeding season and therefore younger or lighter calves at weaning. Some are beyond a producer’s control.

"However, implementing a high-quality health and nutrition program, managing body condition, and ensuring that the breeding herd is physically sound before the breeding season can be part of a yearly management plan," Whitley said. "These practices can increase your returns at weaning and warrant consideration."

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, check out the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

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