By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

Dr. Jesse Richardson detailed profitability measures to the cattle producers attending the recent Upper Sabine Cow-Calf Clinic. — Staff photo by Kramer

April 27, 2006 - There are several things that influence a cattlemen’s profitability, and according to Dr. Jesse Richardson of the Henderson County Animal Clinic, breeding season is the best time to evaluate those factors.

Richardson, a vet who has worked with the Partners in Extension Program (PEP) project, spoke at the recent Upper Sabine Cow Calf Clinic. He explained to attendees that many indicators to success and failure can be discovered during the breeding season.

In fact, Richardson said breeding season is the single-most important time of the year. “If you don’t get them bred, nothing else is going to happen,” he said. “Reproduction affects the bottom line more than anything else.”

He pointed out that palpation is a good way to evaluate breeding success because a lot can be examined during that time; first by noting how many cows became pregnant.

“The most important day is when you palpate the cows,” he said. That is when, he said, you can evaluate how many cows became pregnant and begin investigating why others did not.

“We want to know why we did good, or start thinking about what went wrong,” he explained about conception rates.

In Texas, Richardson said an 80 to 85 percent pregnancy rate is the average, but a 90 to 95 percent pregnancy rate is considered to be a successful breeding season.

For those cattlemen who fall below the average, Richardson said there may be several factors to blame. Those factors range from the cattle themselves to management decisions. He said the examination of the problem should begin with the purchase of the cattle.

Before cattle are bred (including when purchasing cattle for a breeding program), Richardson suggested examining a few things about the cows. He said first cattlemen should determine if the cows are bred or not, their body condition score, make note of anything abnormal, check the animal’s identification number, and know the age of the animal. 

Richardson said body condition score (BCS) is very important to check at the time of purchase, and before and after breeding on the farm.

“Pregnancy tells us how a herd has done in the past,” he said, explaining that a high pregnancy rate can indicate that the herd system pre-breeding was effective. “Body condition score tells us what we are going to have to do in the future.”

A low BCS (before or after breeding or parturition) can indicate that some issues will need to be addressed in the future. He said a high BCS animal (before or after breeding) will be able to coast through the winter and breed again next year, but a lower BCS-animal will require some money before they will be ready to breed again.

Poor pregnancy rates may be overcome with an increased BCS. To increase the chance of a higher score, Richardson recommended doing a few things.

First he said, breeding season should be based on what forages are available before and after breeding. He said it’s one aspect of breeding that is often neglected.

“People are trying to raise calves at the wrong time of the year for their forages,” he said. “You need to choose a breeding season based on forages, it’s very, very important.”

He said the lack of proper available forages can cause lower BCS. To be sure the forages available are appropriate, Richardson said hay should be tested.

“Know what you’re feeding those cows,” he said. Then he said consider any protein or mineral supplements that may need to be administered, or have been made available in the past.

Forages, he noted, are only one part of herd health - an important factor to breeding success.

Richardson said the herd should be on a parasite-control program and a disease vaccination program, when necessary. 

Bio-security should also be addressed. The vet said bringing in cattle from other herds can introduce new problems to a previously healthy herd.

“I see cows standing out (in the pasture) with sale barn stickers on them,” he said, recalling how often people mix new herd additions with their other cattle. He recommended purchased cattle be kept separate for a period of time. “You need to have a bio-security program for the herd.”

Even if cows are healthy, a bad bull or bull-management can cause undesired breeding results, according to Richardson.

The veterinarian said often people turn out one bull to cover several cows - a real problem. “If they’ve got more than 50 cows to breed, I don’t see how he’s gonna get it done,” he said. 

In contrast, he said too many bulls on a cow herd can also cause problems.

“Bulls need plenty of work to do,” he explained and described the hostile environment that can be created when bulls do not have enough cows to breed.

He suggested that one bull be turned out for every 25 to 30 cows.

By managing herd health, bulls, and forages, Richardson said the breeding season can make for a profitable future. Still, when the season is complete, he recommended breaking down the breeding successes and taking note of which cows successfully bred and which ones did not.

He said the age of the cows can determine a lot about why they failed to breed. If thin and old, or first- and second-year cows did not breed, Richardson said inadequate nutrition may be to blame, so that phase of management should be reevaluated.

In some cases, the cows that failed to breed may be scattered through several age ranges and sizes, in those cases, Richardson said there may be a disease problem, or a bad bull may have been used, both of which should be looked at more closely.

If pregnancies within a breeding herd vary in date more than two to eight months, another issue may need examination. “This usually happens to people whose breeding season doesn’t match their forages,” Richardson explained. In addition, he said, leaving a bull out with the cow herd too long can result in varying pregnancy dates.

Post-pregnancy, the veterinarian suggested going back to the body condition score to address past and present problems. If BCS post-pregnancy is low, Richardson said to look at the other factors such as the parasites and forages, but to consider weaning practices. 

Richardson said weaning should be done at around seven months. Cows that have previously had trouble breeding, and have generally weaned calves at a BCS of 4 should be cared for differently in order to raise their BCS to a 5 at weaning. Richardson said BCS at weaning is important because a higher BCS when the cows are weaning can result in a high long-term BCS. He also pointed out that low BCS at weaning can be a result of keeping calves on the cow too long.

“It’s not the cow’s fault if prices are low,” he said about holding calves too long. “Get those calves off her.”

Even the best cattleman needs help from time to time, according to Richardson, and he said there are plenty of places to get it.  

He said county Extension agents are a great source of help with forages, a veterinarian can address bull and cow fertility problems, and several types of beef specialist can provide assistance in various areas.

He said it profitability is based on breeding and successful breeding is based  on several small factors. Those who become profitable, Richardson said, tend to address the management of the smaller factors. 

“They’re just a little bit better in a lot of places,” he said. “It’s a little bit here and a little bit there that makes the difference.”