Reproduction is the single most important factor for profitable beef production. Rick Funston, University of Nebraska. Heifer Development Systems

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1 Rick Funston, University of Nebraska 6/19/14 Heifer Development Systems Rick Funston Reproductive Physiologist UNL Beef Research and Extension BBR GSL PHREC NEREC ARDC KCWL WEC BEEF SYSTEMS RESEARCH Lincoln NCTA Dalbey Reproduction is the single most important factor for profitable beef production. 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 1

2 Replacement Heifer Selection 1. Cull daughters of bad mark cows What are Bad Mark Cows*? 1. Cows that need help calving 2. Cows that calve late (+42 days) 3. Cows that fail to wean a calf 4. Cows that have big teats/need help 5. Cows that wean a light wt. calf 6. Cows that have attitude problems * assume opens are culled Jim Gosey, 25 Jim Gosey, 25 Replacement Heifer Selection 1. Cull daughters of bad mark cows 2. Cull light wts., big birth wt & 6 frame 3. Cull youngest (born +45 d. calving ) 4. Select daughters of oldest cows 5. Optimum (not maximum) preg. rate 6. Pigmented eyes & udder 7. Form = depth rib, chest width, guts Jim Gosey, 25 Time of Calving Affects Heifer Progeny Period of calving, 21 day periods Heifer calves (n = 119) 1 st 2 nd 3 rd Preweaning ADG, lb Weaning weight, lb Prebreeding ADG, lb Prebreeding weight, lb Cycling, % Breeding ADG, lb Pregnancy rate, % Calved in 1 st 21 d Advantages of calving early as a heifer Advantages of calving early as a heifer Percent of heifers remaining in the herd, % to to and after Average weaning weight, kg * * * * * * 1 to to and after Calving Season Calf 1 Calf 2 Calf 3 Calf 4 Calf 5 Calf 6 Calf 7 Calf 8 Calf 9 Cushman et al., 213. JAS 91:4486 Cushman et al., 213. JAS 91: BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 2

3 Feeding to a Target Weight % of Mature breeding Item 55% 65% Pre-breeding wt Conception (21d) 3 62 August Pregnancy 63 9 October Pregnancy 5 87 Calving wt Calf birth wt Calving difficulty,% Calf death loss,% 6 5 Target Weight Method Heifer WW Days/wt gain Target BW Nov d May 1 5 lb 25 lb 75 lb Gain needed 1.4 lb Effect of Time of Gain From Weaning to Breeding on Heifer Performance Timing of Gain and Reproductive Performance Percent of Target Gain No difference in age at puberty, conception rate, or calf performance the next year. Clanton et al., 1983 Item Even Gain Late Gain FS EVENGAIN vs LATEGAIN, Age and Weight at Puberty, no effect, 12% less feed w/ LATEGAIN. Smith et al., 1995 Overall Longevity and Heifer Development System 1 Restriction Re-feeding 9 8 BCS 7 BCS 6 % in Herd High Medium Low-High BCS 5 BCS BCS Age 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 3

4 What is the appropriate Target Weight?? " 3-year study " MARC II heifers 8 each year " Developed to either 53 or 58% of mature weight " Placed with bulls May 2 45 d " Data collected through 4 th pregnancy diagnosis What is the appropriate Target Weight?? % Mature Weight Pregnancy Rate 1st nd rd th What is the appropriate Target Weight?? % Mature Weight 5 55 Breeding Season 6 d 45 d Pregnancy Rate 87 9 Calve Date 3/15 3/9 Birth Weight PG Wt. 2 nd Calf nd Preg. Rate Fertility at Puberty Pregnancy % Estrus 1st 3rd Following Natural Service Following d 7 ET (3 years head Creighton, et al. 25) Estrous Synchronization with Natural Service for Heifers Heifers developed to 5% mature weight MGA No MGA April Feed MGA (.5 mg/d) Subfertile Estrus Turn in Bulls 14 Day Synchronized heats $ Cycling, % d preg, % 9 9 Wt. Preg check, lb Calving Date 3/8/5 3/6/5 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 4

5 Heifer Development Systems Treatment, Exp. 1 Winter Range * (WR) 138 d Corn Residue * () 138 d Pasture * 48 d Supplement (S) 21 d x No Supplement (NS) * A daily supplement offered (28 % CP; 62 % DDG, 11 % wheat midds, 2 % urea, 25 % other, 8 mg/d monensin;.45 kg/hd/d) x Supplement offered (28 % CP; 62 % DDG, 11 % wheat midds, 2 % urea, 25 % other, 24 mg/d monensin; 1.4 kg/hd/d) Synchronization of Estrus in Cyclic Cows/heifers PGF 2a $ 1.7 Increased Calf Weaning Age and Weight with Estrous Synchronization 41 lbs 5 Day 1 Turn in Bulls Synchronized heats #Used with 32-day breeding season at Fort Keogh with the Season of Calving herds over the past 3 years and has consistently yielded pregnancy rates > 85%. Weaning Age / Weight 13 days Schafer et al., 199 CSU Beef Report. p. 115 Pregnancy Rate Calf Production day breeding season 45 day breeding season No synchronization Synchronized Length of breeding season 6 days 45 days No Synch Synch Calved in 1 st 21 d, % Calf birth date, Julian day Calf birth BW, lb Calf weaning BW, lb Calf value, $/calf BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 5

6 Effect of Wintering System on BW before Breeding, Exp. 1 P <.1 Effect of Wintering System on Puberty Status before Breeding, Exp. 1 P <.1 WR WR Effect of Treatment on ADG after Breeding, Exp. 1 Effect of Treatment on BW ADG, lb Winter Stalks-Bull Bull-PG WR Effect of Treatment on Pregnancy Rate, Exp. 1 Treatment, Exp. 2 Dry Lot * (DL) 193 d Corn Residue x () 134 d Dry Lot y 59 d $762 $765 High Energy (H) 17 d Low Energy (L) 17 d High Energy 17 d Low Energy 17 d * DM%; Brome hay (62%), corn silage (2%), DDG (13%), supplement (5%, 2 mg/d monensin) x A daily supplement offered (28 % CP; 62 % DDG, 11 % wheat midds, 2 % urea, 25 % other, 8 mg/d monensin;.45 kg/hd/d) y DM%; brome hay (58%), corn silage (25%), DDG (12%), supplement (5%, 2 mg/d monensin) 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 6

7 BW, lb Effect of Wintering System on BW before Breeding, Exp P <.1 74 Wintering system 853 DL Effect of Wintering System on Puberty Status before Breeding, Exp. 2 P <.1 DL Effect of Treatment on ADG after Breeding, Exp Heifer Protocols-Fixed Time AI (TAI) beefrepro.info Effect of Treatment on BW at Pregnancy Diagnosis, Exp. 2 Effect of Treatment on Pregnancy Rate, Exp. 2 $962 $894 DL DL DL DL DL 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 7

8 Rick Funston, University of Nebraska 6/19/14 Development Stalks vs Dry Lot Heifer Development Weight, lb 665 $ ADG Wean -> Pre.84 $ AI Pregnancy rate, % 86 $ WHY? $ ADG Pre 1.4 $ ADG Post $ Stalks Lot.9.5 Winter Extensive heifer development systems " Lower Development Costs $1 + " Selling open heifers was profitable " Determine adaptability early? o Short breeding season o Lighter breeding weights o Lighter mature weights? " Must continue to grow through calving Has Age of Puberty Changed? Spri ng A word of caution Later calving herds Trt Hay Meadow H/NS H/S M/NS M/S Weight Preg beefrepro.info rfunston2@unl.edu 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 8

9 beef.unl.edu 214 BIF Symposium, Lincoln, Neb. 9