Beef Reproduction and Genetics
Calving Season Benchmarks
Reproductive performance of an operation is important to the overall success and bottom line of that operation. Benchmarking may be beneficial as it can help focus limited management time on critical areas of an individual’s beef cow business.
Nutritional Needs Prior to Calving
Nutrition during late gestation plays a large role on the future calf as well as the dam. It is during the last 60-90 days of gestation, or the pre-calving period, that impacts the calf’s survivability, long-term health and overall production.
Calving Book Technology: There’s an App for That
Record keeping is necessary for beef producers to make benchmarks and progress from year-to-year. New calving book apps can make record keeping easier, helping producers stay on track during calving season.
Using Estrous Synchronization in Natural-Service Breeding Situations
Estrous synchronization is typically associated with artificial insemination (AI) programs, and is therefore often viewed as impractical or impossible to use within natural-service herds.
Preparing for Calving Season
Whether the calving season will start soon or is a few months away, it’s never a bad time to start preparing for the arrival of fresh calves on the ground. Here are some things to consider prior to the beginning of calving.
Beef Management & Reproduction Report Card
SDSU Extension tool for producers to track the critical management factors that affect reproductive success in beef cattle.
SDSU Department of Animal Science Welcomes New Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Beef Reproductive Physiology Specialist
October 14, 2022
Jessica Drum, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Beef Reproductive Physiology Specialist, will focus on reproduction research within the beef cattle industry and share her knowledge through SDSU Extension programs and teaching.
Management of Body Condition Score throughout the Year
Body condition scoring (BCS) is a visual indicator of past energy status of cattle and a method that can be used to monitor nutritional status of the cow herd.
Feed at Night, Calve During the Day
As cattle producers begin thinking about calving season and management practices to ease the workload, night feeding is something to consider. Producers have questioned whether or not the time of feeding affects time of calving, and the answer is “Yes.”
Selecting a Calving Season Based on Matching Nutritional Needs and Resources
Choosing the calving season is a complex and highly individual decision for each beef cattle producer. A primary consideration in pasture-based cow-calf operations is choosing a calving season that will best match the forage supply to forage demand.