Reproductive failure in cattle can be very frustrating. Understanding some basic anatomy and principles of reproduction can help producers better communicate with their veterinarian and possibly prevent pregnancy loss.

The calendar is one of our main management tools on the farm. Calendars assists us in looking at what needs to be done in the immediate days to come and what we need to be planning to do in the months and years to come. If you have always wanted to tighten the calving season, let your calendar and reminders be your guide.

Your upcoming calf crop is two things: revenue and food. First, on the revenue side, we have discussed the importance of pre-conditioning and health protocols numerous times.

Let’s run through the January checklist: grass tetany prevention for grazing winter annuals, spring-calving herds need to make sure bulls are in a body condition score (BCS) of 5 or 6 and have a breeding soundness exam, and ensure appropriate nutrition for cows in peak lactation.

How big is big enough? Cattle producers debate cow size as if it were politics. It simply comes down to dollars and “sense.” Cow inputs account for a large portion of an operation’s expenses.

Rain is usually a welcome sight. However, wet summers can make for bad winters. Of all the articles and issues that I’ve had the opportunity to write about in the past two years with Progressive Cattleman, this topic is the most important for an operation’s success.

Nobody likes surprises. Neither the runt calf that looks like a baby deer at delivery nor the late-night calf pull is ideal. No one wants those issues. It’s stressful, time-consuming and can be very costly.

People like consistency, and most of us don’t like surprises except for that rare check in the mail we weren’t expecting.

Anyone who has ever owned cattle has asked the question, “Why aren’t my cows getting bred?” Undetected diseases plague us and keep us guessing. We must always be vigilant to prevent diseases such as trich, bovine viral diarrhea and lepto from entering the herd. Still, the most impactful disease is probably the most treatable and preventable.

Many producers in the Southeast tend to avoid it or not make the effort. Maybe you are the exception as the progressive cattlemen you are.