How to Breed Cattle & Bulls

Assess the existing records on the animals in the herd and compare them to breeding goals. Examine the cull rate for the herd, or the percent of undesirable animals that have been removed from the herd. Look for a cull rate for a well-managed herd to be in the 8 to 10 percent range; greater than this, and you are dealing with suboptimal reproductive performance.

Take stock of the efficacy of your estrous detection program. Determine how many cows from the herd were bred on the basis of standing heat, as opposed to secondary signs of heat. Note when, where and for how long the cows are observed for heat. Make sure that estrous detection aids are functioning and can be confirmed with visual observation. Ensure that employees in charge of this program know what to anticipate in terms of actionable estrous behavior.

Take into account the factors affecting cattle conception. Make sure that the cows are being inseminated accurately. If artificially inseminating, inseminate cows in the last half of their standing heat period and not based on secondary heat characteristics. Thaw any frozen semen using the warm bath method and prevent the inseminating device from being exposed to cold shocks. Inseminate the cows in a clean and gentle manner, making sure to deposit the semen beyond the cervix into the uterus. If a bull is used for insemination, gather relevant statistics, such as whether he is used for heifers only, or selected breeders, or allowed free rein of the herd. Take account of the vaccination programs that protect the herd from reproductive diseases.

Examine your cattle feeding and nutrition program. Get copies of the ration programs for the dry and lactating cows and determine how closely they are being followed. Examine the feedstuffs personally to look for signs of mold and/or other contamination. Run lab tests on forages and feed given to the cows. Check the quality of the water given to the cattle.

Determine breeding season dates. After studying every aspect of your cattle breeding management system, choose the date for turning the bulls in with the cows. Coincide calf delivery with the time when the forage is most nutritious and high in protein, which will vary depending on your region. Gather the figures for your area; in North Dakota, for example, protein content is highest in May, after which it declines steadily through October. Get your cows with young calves on the good forage at this time. Alternately, set the date in accordance with the peak market values for calves. Also, keep the calving season short, about 80 days, to allow for recovery and ensure that calving can occur every year.