Producer Challenges in Breeding Heifers and Young Cows Colby Elford Travis Peardon Livestock Specialists Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Breeding Heifers & Young Cows Planning Nutrition and Minerals Breeding Season Costs of Breeding Program ADOPT Project Heifer Synchronization & Timed Artificial Insemination
Planning If you fail to plan, you plan to fail
Planning Define objectives What do you want to achieve? Increase Pregnancy Rate on Heifers? Etc. Set clear measurable goals and revisit them. Make changes to reach those goals
Planning Planning for Reproductive Success Starts Early Sire Selection & Breeding Soundness Exam Calving Season Weaning Time Record Keeping Essential
NUTRITION, IS IT THAT IMPORTANT?
Influence of BCS on First Service Conception Rate Fitted Pr robablilities 0.80 0.75 0.70 0.65 0.60 0.55 0.50 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 Body Condition Score (BCS) Patsy Houghton, Heartland Cattle Company
Nutritional Impacts Early conception during the first breeding season: Influences weaning weights Allows additional time to rebreed Enhances subsequent productivity Underfeeding and overfeeding reduces fertility Arnett et al., (1971), Ferrell (1982)
Nutritional Impacts Feed to meet targeted gains Inclining plain of nutrition Adjust feeding regime as animals grow Don t change feeding program at breeding time. Allow time for cattle to adjust to pasture.
Minerals
Minerals Feed & Water Analysis is Crucial Identify deficiencies or excesses These can both be managed through a tailored mineral program
Minerals Trace Minerals have an effect on reproductive efficiency Copper Manganese Selenium Iodine Zinc Source: NRC Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle (2000), Alberta Beef Herd Management (1991), Feeds and Nutrition, (1990).
Pasture Mineral Requirements Nutrient Cows Requirements Grass Provides (average) Calcium % 0.30 0.70 0.90 Phosphorous % 0.23 0.21 Potassium % 0.60 2.0 Sulphur % 0.15 0.20 Sodium % 0.10 0.01 Magnesium % 0.12 0.25 Copper mg/kg 10 6.5 Iron mg/kg 50 95 Manganese mg/kg 35 58 Zinc mg/kg 36 118 Selenium mg/kg 0.25 0.20
Breeding Season Aim for 60-65 days (or 45 Days) Allows 3 full cycles (ample opportunity to get bred) Automatically selects for the most fertile animals End to drag on calving seasons
Breeding Season Short breeding season benefits both the cow and calf Cow has longer to recover before being rebred Heifer s age at first calving may be the best phenotypic indicator of fertility. Mousel et al. (2012) Heifers that calve in the 1 st 21 days represent as much as 75% of future income
Breeding Season Pull Bulls and Preg Check No Second Chances!!!!! Open Animals can be sold early Work with veterinarian on a suitable vaccination program for all classes of cattle
ADOPT Project: Estrus Synchronization and Artificial Insemination in Commercial Beef Production
ADOPT Agricultural Demonstrations of Practices and Technologies Accelerate transfer of knowledge to Saskatchewan producers All Saskatchewan based producer groups are eligible (Rudy Feeder Co-op) Each producer group eligible for funding of up to $10,000 per site per project
Why Estrus Synch and AI? New synchronization methods work and are affordable way to build your herd with genetics that are otherwise unattainable Ability to use sires with highly accurate EPD s
Estrus Synchronization and Artificial Insemination in Commercial Beef Production 3 herds in Saskatchewan Jason and Karla Hicks, Parkbeg SK Ivan and Lee Carpenter, Hanley SK Brent and Karin Griffin, Elbow SK 40-60 heifers 20-30 Natural Service 20-30 Synchronized and Fixed Timed AI (clean up bull) All animals palpated for suitability prior to project
Natural Breeding Cost of Bull $3000 $4000 $5000 $6000 Salvage Value $1500 $1500 $1500 $1500 Final Cost $1500 $2500 $3500 $4500 Yardage, Feed Pasture $/year $1000 $1000 $1000 $1000 Vet Costs $/year $100 $100 $100 $100 Death Loss (10%/year*4years) $1200 $1600 $2000 $2400 Total Cost (4 years) $7100 $8500 $9900 $9500 # of calves sired 120 120 120 120 Bull cost/calf $59.17 $70.83 $82.50 $94.17
Progesterone Implant Based Protocol GnRH Estradiol Benzoate PGF AI 0 7 9 CIDR..54 ±2hrs..
Cost of this Fixed-Time AI Protocol Estradiol Benzoate - $1.32 CIDR - $14 PGF- $4.93 (Estrumate, Lutalyse ) GNRH - $4.29 (Cystorelin, Fertiline, Fertagyl ) Needles/syringes etc. - $1 TOTAL = $25.54 + Semen + AI Tech.
Cost of this Fixed-Time AI Protocol Semen Cost $20 Drug costs $25.54 AI Tech. $20 Clean Up Bull Cost ($4000 bull) $28.33 (40%* $70.83) Total Cost $93.87 Cost Without Tech $73.87
Beware of the Weather!
Natural Service Bull The Bulls AI Bull
AI vs. Natural Service (Griffin Herd) What have we measured? Cycle bred based on calving dates Cycle EstrusSync. & AI Group Total % pregnant Fixed Time AI cycle 1 st natural cycle 2 nd natural cycle 3 rd natural cycle 13/20 = 65% 65% (70%)? 5/20 = 25% 90% 0/20 = 0% 90% 2/20= 10% 100%
AI vs. Natural Service (Griffin Herd) What have we measured? Cycle bred based on calving dates Cycle Fixed Time AI cycle 1 st natural cycle 2 nd natural cycle 3 rd natural cycle Natural service Group n/a 12/20 = 60% 4/20 = 20% 2/20 = 10% Total % pregnant n/a 60% 80% 90%
AI vs. Natural Service (Griffin Herd) What have we measured? Calving Interval (due date of April 12 th ) Estrus Sync. and AI group Average birthdate of April 16 Natural Service Group Average Birthdate of April 29 13 days in favor of the Estrus Sync. and AI group
AI vs. Natural Service (Griffin Herd) 13 more days for heifers to prepare for next breeding season More weaning weight in next calf crop! 13 more days for calves to gain weight before weaning Calves should gain 2 2.5 lbs/day (26-32.5 lbs more weaning weight) At $1.45/lb = $37.70 to $47.13 extra value/calf
AI vs. Natural Service (Griffin Herd) Estrus Synch and AI cost ($93.87 70.83) = $23.04 more than natural service Genetics being equal could be a $15 to $25 advantage to estrus synch and AI + genetic merit of AI sire + increased performance of heifers retained in the herd + calving ease from using highly accurate proven sires + more sleep, AI calves birthdates more concentrated, less checking required (less labour)
AI vs. Natural Service What s left to measure? Weaning weights - fall of 2013 Complete economic analysis
Continuing..
Thank you! Dr. Colin Palmer (WCVM) Cooperators SK Ministry of Ag. ADOPT Program Rudy Feeder Co-op
Questions?