NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

June 6, 1999

Assess Cow Condition Before Breeding Season, NDSU Specialist Advises

Despite good pastures this spring, some of the region's cows are not in good condition for the breeding season, a North Dakota State University specialist says.

"We had some cows out on grass very early this year because producers did not have enough hay. As a result, those pastures haven't grown enough to keep pace with grazing. In some cases, mud placed additional stress on cows," says Karl Hoppe, a livestock specialist at North Dakota State University's Carrington Research Extension Center.

"As those thin cows begin coming back into heat, lack of condition is going to show up as breeding problems," Hoppe says. "It's important that producers bring those cows into condition now to improve the odds of success during the breeding season."

Hoppe says cows that are visibly thin, with a body condition score of four or less need the most attention. "Get them on some better feed or better pasture," he advises. "You may want to consider rotational grazing to keep cows on the best pasture conditions."

Another strategy is to provide supplements. A supplemental feed to provide 10 percent more energy than grass (for example two to four pounds of barley or cake fed two weeks before bulls are turned out and for up to three to four weeks after that) can give cows the nutritional boost they need for successful breeding, Hoppe says. If your facilities permit, you can separate thin cows from the rest of the herd for special nutritional treatment prior to breeding.

"Bulls should be examined for breeding soundness and semen should be tested before breeding season," Hoppe adds. "Allow one bull for every 20 to 40 cows. Young bulls can typically service fewer cows than older bulls. A reproductive problem with a cow is serious, but in a bull any undiagnosed problem is amplified because of the number of cows that are affected."

Finally, Hoppe suggests trimming the breeding season with the ultimate goal of reducing the length of the calving season. "Turn bulls out for 42 days or 60 days rather than 90 days," he says. The result will be some open cows that may need to be culled from the herd.

"But next spring, you'll see a shortened calving season," he says. "That means reduced labor and a more uniform calf crop at weaning time."

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Source: Karl Hoppe (701) 652-2951

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629