Choosing beef replacements is a foundational decision that affects herd productivity, profitability and long-term genetic progress. Whether you raise replacements on-farm or purchase them, understanding the economic, genetic and management implications is key to making informed decisions.

Phenotype is what puts pounds on calves, beef in bellies and dollars in bank accounts. While significant genetic progress has never been more attainable, optimizing an environment to fully take advantage of that careful genetic selection remains a challenge for many producers.

For cattle operations of any size, a bull purchase represents one of the most significant investments producers make. The genetics, disposition and overall health of a herd sire will have far-reaching impacts on productivity, profitability and long-term improvement.

As it always is, the 2025 edition of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium – hosted June 9-12 in Amarillo, Texas, by West Texas A&M University – delivered boatloads of cutting-edge research results and practical applications of genetic tools.

Artificial insemination as a regular practice may seem out of reach on your operation, but this floor- and ceiling-raising technology is more affordable and easier to access than ever before.

We see a lot of variation in cattle, even when we utilize full siblings within sire groups. We wonder why there is so much variation from the lightest calf to the heaviest calf, and from the highest-quality grade to the lowest-quality grade, and from the calf that stays in the herd until she is 14 to 17 years old versus the one that falls out at 2 years old.

With reproductive success estimated to be three to nine times more influential on operational profitability compared to other production traits, it makes sense that we would provide the best opportunities to maximize the number of cows we are able to get pregnant.

In the ever-evolving world of cattle breeding, Sixteen Peaks Cattle Company, an east Tennessee seedstock to feedlot operation, is taking a bold, data-driven approach to advancing the Akaushi breed.

Some producers may be leery of adopting practices such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization due to perceived high costs and risk factors. Here’s a look at some of the numbers.