Looking for some advice. All of our cows are currently bred natural service. We run a 63 day breeding season for first calf heifers, give second calf heifers 75 days, and give cows 63 days unless we have a bull get hurt or something and if so we might give them another 10 or so, for some insurance. Our open rate when figuring cows exposed runs from 8-9% including the heifer calves. Is this acceptable for that length of a breeding season? We had 2 open heifers out of 22 this year, but lost one "would have been" second calf heifer and two young cows out of 20, and five cows out of the remaining 68. My uncle and cousin claim a better breeding rate, around 5% open, but they run a 90 day calving season. I like the shorter season for a nicer group of calves when we sell feeders.
We use Purina mineral free choice, using chelated mineral for the heifer calves and first calf heifers just before and during the front part of the breeding period. We have been able to make a lot of strides in % of calves in the first 42 days, etc. This year it was just short of 86%. Which lends me to believe the mineral is doing a good job. But the preg rate lends me to believe we might be able to do better with something else. We run 20-25 cows/bull, and rotate them through pasture, some containing fescue. They have been in excellnet shape the past few years. Half the cows we lost were among the last 15% to calf last year. Two were pretty old, and one of course had just had her first calf. Is there anything I can do to keep them from slipping out the back, or are some just bound to go that route? Thanks
We use Purina mineral free choice, using chelated mineral for the heifer calves and first calf heifers just before and during the front part of the breeding period. We have been able to make a lot of strides in % of calves in the first 42 days, etc. This year it was just short of 86%. Which lends me to believe the mineral is doing a good job. But the preg rate lends me to believe we might be able to do better with something else. We run 20-25 cows/bull, and rotate them through pasture, some containing fescue. They have been in excellnet shape the past few years. Half the cows we lost were among the last 15% to calf last year. Two were pretty old, and one of course had just had her first calf. Is there anything I can do to keep them from slipping out the back, or are some just bound to go that route? Thanks