  BeefTalk:
Successful Beef Production Involves an Artists Attention to Details
By Kris Ringwall, Extension Beef Specialist,
NDSU Extension Service
How many beef cattle producers consider themselves artists? I would hope all of
you do because that is what you are. Just as an artist fills in all the details
that collectively constitute a work of art, you attend to all the details that
constitute successful beef reproduction. Today the picture is bigger and the
details more numerous than ever.
That’s something to consider in late April and early May when those of us
here at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center
are concerned with a particularly large number of details involved with the
preparation for breeding. Let me share those.
Replacement heifers have been monitored throughout the winter and were
weighed Tuesday, April 10. On Wednesday, April 11, Melengestrol Acetate (MGA)
was added to the heifer ration, and was continued through the morning of
Tuesday, April 24, to synchronize estrous in the heifers. MGA is a feed additive
that suppresses estrus. Once MGA is removed from the diet, heifers exhibit
estrous behavior. For the synchronization program to work, the heifers need to
receive MGA every morning for 14 days, with no missed feedings.
Meanwhile, the mature cow/calf pairs on the west side (first-calving heifers,
second-calving cows and any problem cows are kept separate on the west side for
closer observation) were worked on April 11 and 12. The calves were vaccinated
with a seven-way treatment, steer calves implanted and castrated and all the
calves branded. The cows received a pre-breeding vaccination. The cows and
calves on the east side (the mature cows) of the ranch were worked on April 18
and 19.
Cow/calf pairs were initially sorted into major pasture groups:
- Group 1 -- mature cows for turn out on native pasture in early June.
- Group 2 -- first calf heifers.
- Group 3 -- mature cows for turn out May 2 on crested wheatgrass.
Bull fertility tests were done April 25 and 26.
In preparation for breeding, groups 1 and 2 were started on 3 pounds of range
cake per cow starting April 25, switching to range cake with MGA on May 1 for
six days, and then returning to regular range cake (no MGA) until breeding.
Group 3 won’t receive any range cake.
In the next step of the synchronization process group 1 and 2 will receive a
prostaglandin (PGF) injection starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 7, The
replacement heifers will be weighed and moved to large breeding pens on Tuesday,
May 8. On Wednesday, May 9, group 3 cows will each receive a GnRH injection (a
hormone that synchronizes estrous) and be exposed to bulls. On Friday, May 11,
all group 1 and 2 cows will receive gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) at 8
a.m. On Saturday, all heifers will receive the PGF injections at 8 am and bred
12 hours after standing heat is detected during the week of May 14. Standing
heat will be detected through HeatWatch, a computerized heat detection system.
On Wednesday, May 16, group 3 cows will each receive a PGF injection and
allowed to breed naturally. On Friday, May 18, at 1 p.m., group 1 and 2 cows
will receive a PGF injection, and a heat mount detection device, KMARs, will be
applied. Those cows with triggered KMARs on Sunday evening will be pulled and
bred Monday morning and the rest of the cows bred Monday afternoon
Successful programs are filled with these kinds of details, there are no
exceptions. I hope your breeding season is a masterpiece. May you find all your
ear tags.
Your comments are always welcome at www.BeefTalk.com
For more information, contact the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement
Association, 1133 State Avenue, Dickinson, ND 58601 or go to www.CHAPS2000.COM
on the Internet. In correspondence about this column, refer to BT0036.
###
Source: Kris Ringwall, (701) 483-2045, kringwal@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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