Improving Weaning Efficiencies
By Nancy Carver Singleton
Improving calf crop numbers takes a comprehensive approach instead
of working on just one or two areas. Good breeding is a factor of
genetics, health, nutrition and management, said Dr. Stephen Blezinger,
a nutritional and management consultant in Sulfur Springs, Texas.
“
Many producers try to prioritize these four factors with the thought
that, ‘If I do a good job on health, the others will fall in
line.’ But each of these is of equal importance because if
one component is lacking, the whole system falls apart,” he
said.
Weaning efficiency is frequently an area that could benefit from
closer attention. “Even well-managed operations can focus more
on efficiency. This is where profits are made,” Blezinger said.
He gave an example of a 100-head cow herd with 15 cows that did not
produce a calf. Although carrying expense is highly variable, it
was placed at $300 annually. “This means the other 85 have
to absorb the cost of the 15 that did not produce,” Blezinger
said. The $4,500 loss meant the cost for the 85 cows that did produce
went up $52.94 per head—or a 17.64 percent increase in production
costs.
The herd owner also lost money because of not having those 15 calves
to sell. Calculating the herd’s average weaning weight at 500
lb. with an average price of $1.25 lb., lost revenue from each calf
is $625—or a total of $9,375. Between the added costs and lost
revenue, this 85 percent calf crop represents a loss of $13,875.
Many producers would be surprised by that $13,875 figure. “They
can figure what their feed and hay costs are and perhaps vet bills,
but they commonly will not factor in everything. On top of that,
when you calculate in the cost of carrying a cow that did not get
bred, bred very late, aborted a calf, a bull that was not a fertile
as need be, not enough bulls to service the herd, etc., the costs
add up very quickly,” Blezinger said.
The table shows economic costs at three levels of weaning efficiency. “The
losses are improved dramatically when reproductive efficiency improves,” he
said. A 10 percent improvement in calving percentage results in a
66.67 percent reduction in total revenue losses on a 100-cow herd
using the assumed values. Blezinger emphasized the following four
points:
1. Select cows and bulls of genetic stock where reproductive performance
is prioritized.
2. Work with your veterinarian to develop a complete health program
that focuses on reducing or eliminating reproductive diseases. This
means a regularly and properly scheduled vaccination program. It
also means regularly and closely observing cattle to watch for illness,
injuries or other irregularities that must be treated in a timely
manner to prevent more extensive or longer-term problems.
3. Nutrition is critical and not only one or two components such
as crude protein or fat. “All nutrients must be balanced and
in the correct volumes and in the correct volumes and proportions
to one another. Even one deficient nutrient can act as a performance
limiter,” Blezinger said.
Systemic performance in cattle is prioritized, meaning the less essential
systems will shut down first if nutrients are deficient. Reproduction
is generally the first system to shut down. “Finding and working
with a qualified nutritionist can help you streamline this program
and ensure you are covering all your bases,” he said.
4. Overall management oversees all these components and also brings
in other tools such as fertility testing bulls, heat synchronization,
artificial insemination, etc.
If all a breeding operation’s bases are covered, it is not
uncommon to get breeding efficiencies in the upper 80s to lower 90
percentages, he said. In summary, “A focus on animal/herd health
and proper, timely, total nutrition are absolutely critical to cows
breeding, calving and raising a calf as they should. And THAT is
the name of the game,” Blezinger emphasized. ©
