With feeder calf prices at record highs and USDA predictions for prices to remain at or above $3 per hundredweight (cwt) into 2027, it’s an exciting time to be in the cow-calf business.
I like to think of it as a great time to make hay while the sun shines. Whether you do so by maintaining beef cow numbers or expanding, profit is still the number one objective.
Turning a profit for cow-calf operations has long been defined by pounds weaned per cow exposed. Studies show that higher-profit operations tend to have higher average weaning weights and pounds weaned per exposed female. Higher-profitability herds also had lower cull sales and a lower culling percentage (5.6% versus 13.8%). That often translates to fewer open cows.
So what does it take to 'make hay while the sun shines?'
More salable pounds at weaning time requires getting cows to calve early in the calving season. A defined breeding season is a good place to begin, and a 60-day breeding season is a good goal. While it takes time to achieve this goal, there are many benefits.
- More pounds at weaning: Calves born early in the calving season have more days to gain weight before weaning – as they get older, upward of 2.25 pounds per day.
- Greater calf crop uniformity: Calves born in a short time period are more uniform in weight and more attractive to buyers on sale day.
- More time to prepare for rebreeding: When a cow calves early in the season, there is more time for her reproductive tract to recover from calving and prepare to breed back so she calves early in the next calving season.
- Heifers that reach puberty earlier: Earlier puberty gives you a larger pool of cycling heifers from which to choose replacements, and multiple cycles prior to first breeding increases the odds of breeding success. Several studies have shown that a heifer who has at least three estrous cycles before breeding will be more likely to breed in the first 21 days of the breeding season. In addition, early-calving heifers return one extra calf in their lifetime compared to late-calving heifers due to added weaning weight.
- Improved cow fertility and longevity: Shortening the breeding season will help you select cows with the best fertility and longevity. Data from South Dakota shows that cows that breed early in the season will remain in the herd longer, as they continue to rebreed early each year.
- Optimized return on investment: The investment in replacement females is significant – often up to 30% of total annual cow costs and one of the top three largest costs. The longer a cow is productive in the herd, the more years you can spread out her cost, making her a better investment over time.
Challenges to reproductive performance
There are several challenges to getting beef cows to breed back early, maintaining pregnancies and sticking to tighter calving intervals. Trace mineral deficiencies are one of those issues and can have a domino effect across production stages.
These essential nutrients are key players in the reproductive process as well as the overall health of the cow:
- Zinc: Aids in immunity, DNA synthesis and replication, and healing epithelial tissue.
- Manganese: Critical for fetal bone development and ensuring calf growth and health.
- Copper: Acts as part of the antioxidant system to protect against cellular damage.
- Cobalt: Promotes fiber digestion and is key to proper energy metabolism.
- Selenium: Crucial for antioxidant function, promoting immunity and clearing infections.
Nutrient availability is critical
Trace mineral sources are not all the same. Ordinary minerals from inorganic sources have limited absorption and are prone to antagonistic interactions with other minerals or diet components that interfere with absorption. Organic trace minerals developed to be delivered via amino acid pathways are water-soluble, stable, absorbable and metabolically available, allowing cows to absorb and use more of these essential nutrients than minerals from inorganic sources.
When cows were provided with an organic trace mineral supplement blend of complexed zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt, we have observed improvements in early conception that averaged 20% across four studies. In addition, a three-year study by University of Florida researchers saw conception rate improvements resulting in a 16-day shorter calving interval when cows consumed the organic trace mineral supplement. Sixteen extra days helps you keep cows in the herd and have heavier calves at weaning.
Support to help cows and heifers maintain pregnancy
In addition to their influence on early conception, trace minerals also impact the cow’s ability to maintain pregnancy. Trace mineral deficiencies can impact early embryonic loss, which is the greatest contributor to total pregnancy loss in a herd, widening the calving window or increasing open rates. Embryo retention in cows receiving the organic trace mineral blend increased 18% from day 17 to day 60 of gestation. In other research, heifers fed the same supplement had 73% early pregnancy retention compared with 62% in heifers fed an inorganic trace mineral.
Year-round nutrition sets up generational reproductive success
Prioritizing trace mineral nutrition also leads to generational improvements across your herd. Research showed heifers reached puberty 19 days earlier regardless of bodyweight when their mothers were fed the organic trace mineral blend during pregnancy. Earlier puberty often leads to early conception in the first breeding season. Furthermore, females that calve earlier in their first calving season have been shown to have greater long-term retention rates in the cow herd.
References omitted but are available upon request by sending an email to the editor.
