Beef Reproduction and Genetics

All Beef Reproduction and Genetics Content
small group of cattle grazing in dry pasture

Importance of Pregnancy Detection During a Dry Year

With weaning wrapping up, pregnant cows should be identified and turned back out to pasture or crop residue. By removing open or even late cows from the herd, valuable feed resources are saved if drought conditions continue.

A group of red and black heifers standing behind a barbed-wire fence.

Heifer Selection and Genomics

Weaning is done and calves are hopefully getting settled into backgrounding yards. Now is the time to select replacement heifers and start them on a development plan that aligns with female management and breeding goals.

A rancher sitting at a laptop near a cattle pen.

Simplifying the Replacement Heifer Dilemma: To Buy or To Raise?

Purchasing or raising replacement females represents a significant investment for cow/calf operations and the impact may be felt for years after.

A cow and her calf touching noses

Heterosis and its Impact

Heterosis is not new to the livestock industry and its benefits have been well documented.

black angus bull at pasture

Bull Selection

Bull sale season is upon us and those who are in the market for a new herd sire face a choice that will impact their herd for many years.

Mixed cattle in feedlot

Effects of Nutrition Changes Following Artificial Insemination

When considering heifer development strategies, it may be important for a producer to consider nutritional stress from changes in the diet following breeding.

A beef bull.

Managing Your Bull’s Fertility

Even though we might be a couple of months before the start of your breeding season, now is the time to really be thinking about your herd bulls.

Black angus bull at pasture with two cows in the background.

Reproductive Injuries in Bulls on Pasture

While reproductive injuries in bulls might not occur every year in a given cow-calf operation, they’re one of the most-common reasons bulls are examined by veterinarians during the breeding season.

Close-up of the heads of curious Red Angus cattle during feeding time in an outdoor pen - dust from the hay and outdoor enclosure swirl in the air around their heads.

2021 Beef Cow Synchronization Protocols

The Beef Reproduction Task Force has developed recommended synchronization protocols for producers that will provide optimal pregnancy rates based on research and field use for both conventional and sexed (gender-selected) semen.

Black Angus crossbred cow standing to the right looking at the camera with two cattle grazing in the background with blank area to the left

Using the Estrus Synchronization Planner

The Estrus Synchronization Planner has been available since 1998, developed by Iowa Beef Center. It has evolved over the years, proving to be an effective and easy tool to help select and implement synchronization protocols.