Seedstock producers are often faced with the challenge of preparing their young bulls for a sale and having those animals ready to go to work for their customers. There is a lot of truth to the old adage “fat sells.” Bulls that are underconditioned are viewed as higher-risk and of lower value than those that carry more muscle and cover.

We’ve made it through a tough winter, and calving season is winding down. If you’re like me, you’ve been looking forward to spring. It’s almost time to turn cows out on lush, green pastures as we start pondering the mating decisions for the breeding season. But as you know, our herd is entering the most critical nutritional point of the production cycle.

When the time comes and we move into a period of softer cattle prices, conversations on many operations will naturally shift. When prices are strong, it is easier to absorb inefficiencies. When prices soften, those same inefficiencies can show up quickly on the bottom line.

A successful breeding season begins months before the first A.I. straw or bull turnout. In the 90 days before breeding, cows and heifers move through metabolic, immune and reproductive shifts that shape follicle quality, uterine readiness and embryo survival.

It is finally that time of year when many producers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing winter is almost behind them. As green grass begins to emerge, it is tempting to assume that winter challenges are over and that cattle will quickly rebound once they are turned out to pasture.

It has been said that the cheapest ranch you can buy is to improve the capacity of the one you already own. I would also suggest that the cheapest cow you can buy is to efficiently breed the one that already carries your brand.

Estrus synchronization is a powerful tool to help tighten calving windows, incorporate superior genetics and improve long-term herd efficiency. But even with the right protocol, results can fall short if the fundamentals aren’t in place.

Although some ranchers haven’t started calving yet, it’s never too early to consider what bull(s) you’re going to use during the next breeding season.

'Tis the season of one of the many seasons on the ranch. Many times, it seems like all the seasons run together. You have calving season, branding season, breeding season, hay season, weaning and shipping, and then before you know it, you’re into calving season again.

If a cow does not get bred, she does not have a calf. That fact alone makes reproduction the number one driver of profitability in a cow-calf operation. But the conversation should not stop there.