Running a successful cow-calf operation requires an almost immeasurable amount of management decisions, ranging from ration ingredients to whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) is in the cards.
One decision that producers contemplate is whether to preg check their females. While most livestock owners book a veterinarian for this service, a few still practice avoidance, citing extra labor, facility wear and tear, added animal stress, time allotments and financial limitations as reasons to abstain.
It’s easy to determine several advantages of preg checking a herd after they return from the breeding pasture:
- Identifying open and pregnant females allows informed culling decisions.
- By removing the open females, remaining feed inventories are more precisely allocated. The amount of purchased feed is also reduced or eliminated.
- Knowing conception rates indicates the reproductive fertility of the group.
- It provides the opportunity to maintain a 365-day calving interval.
- Reproductive diseases such as trichomoniasis can be confirmed.
- Bull performance is evaluated.
- Potential culls are managed by calculating the cost of gain over the short or long term for timely sales and value-added marketing.
- Determining calving dates helps plan vaccinations, facility conditions and labor requirements.
- Identifying early-calving cows adds profitability. Heifers born near the beginning of the season will achieve greater pregnancy rates and longevity during their lifetime.
- Simple tasks such as replacing lost eartags, assessing body condition and administering pre-calving vaccines and parasite control are accomplished.
Still, depending on the herd size and operational goals, dedicating a valuable day’s work to booking and paying a strong-armed veterinarian may not appear cost-effective to everyone.
Technology has recently added an option that might tip the scales for some producers.
“Looking at the cattle industry regarding environmental, cultural, social and economic sustainability, if it’s not a solid tripod, it will fall,” says Ashley Sweeting, vice president of Agscent’s U.S. branch. “Preg checking is a part of being productive and sustainable. We need technology to help make day-to-day decisions like this financially, environmentally and culturally viable.”
Agscent is an Australian-based bio/agritech company pioneering breath-based diagnostics.
Sweeting explains that in many parts of the world, including regions of Australia, Africa and South America, preg checking isn’t a priority, and calving percentages regularly fall below 50%.
“Millions of animals aren’t producing food or providing an income, but a cost is still associated with health, management, vaccinations, feeding and environmental impact. Making better decisions about them increases income and food production, and limits the environmental effect.”
Rather than requiring veterinarians to use invasive rectal palpation methods, Agscent’s technology measures specific volatile organic compounds in an animal’s breath. The procedure is completed chuteside in about 15 seconds using a mask and sample bags. NASA was applying a similar technology to monitor its astronauts’ environment for harmful chemicals, and Agscent adapted the system to detect pregnancy in cows. Today, it claims a 92% accuracy as early as 18 days. The company is currently in the engineering phase. They hope to bring the first commercial prototype to the North American and Australian markets in 2026.
“The cost of these unproductive animals to the industry, economy and environment is significant,” Sweeting says. “Rather than managing them, we can use technology to improve farm livelihoods, raise profitability, build food production and reduce environmental influences.”
Agscent is also in the initial stages of using breath samples for the early identification of cattle diseases and measuring methane emissions.
Gathering and sharing data benefits producers
Ranchers understand how challenging herd management is. Operations must keep track of physical locations, animal welfare, nutritional status, weight gain and feed conversions, health and treatments, performance and productivity. Reproductive fertility is especially critical as breeding performance directly influences longevity, health, calving ability, conformation and sustainability.
Calving and mating records improve both maternal and paternal lines. Producers can make informed decisions on breeding and culling specifics by recording parentage and measuring female performance levels.
Over the last decade, genomics has revolutionized breeding, enabling more rapid improvement through better genetic choices.
Once again, technology is helping.
“We use existing and new data to provide genetic evaluations across all breeds,” says Betty-Jo Almond, general manager at AgSights. “We’re building on the records needed in the seedstock industry and informing the commercial operator, helping them understand what they need in their next herd sire or replacements to improve productivity.”
AgSights is a member-directed, information facilitator company focused on data, knowledge and insight. They identify and offer members integrated management solutions to deliver real-time insights for improved decision-making. Their core service is genetics-focused and designed to find efficiencies and incorporate genetic improvement, including breeding stock selection. They strive to identify productive and sustainable genetics essential to achieving operational goals and supporting industry viability.
“We work like consultants, providing a visualization of records, often in line and bar graphs,” Almond says. “We find what farmers want to track, monitor it and gather insight, adding value and making it visually representative. This gives a key performance indicator of how operations are doing compared to previous seasons and calf crops. Our service is responsive, like online banking at your fingertips.”
AgSights uses seedstock and commercial producer genetic testing results to create an index illustrating the breeding combinations performing optimally in herds.
“From a genetic perspective, we work closely with breeders to rank animals,” Almond explains. “Our custom index uses a breeder’s desired template. They simply sort their cattle on a single number, as it accounts for the value they place on different traits to get the end product they’re looking for.”
AgSights' services expand into all areas from birth to harvest including health, vaccinations, operating procedures, movements, weights and breeding. They’re also working on adding feeding and inventory contributions.
“Data is improving productivity by leaps and bounds,” Almond says. “Consumers want to know more about what they’re buying and eating. As beef becomes more of a luxury and a higher-priced food item, farmers must tell the story of quality and information. Accurate records are helping them do this.”
It’s difficult for cattle producers to hit the target with every management decision or collect the right data to improve their herds. But new and emerging technology – as well as some more established tech – is there to offer support.
