Ohio native Skylar Gericke quickly learned how brutal Arizona summers can be on conception rates and getting cows pregnant. He did his best to get cows bred, and when he was done for the day, he started noticing other improvement areas on the dairy.

The genetic direction of your herd is one of the most powerful management decisions you make. As genetics improve, the performance of your herd improves as well.

Reproductive technologies such as estrus synchronization, artificial insemination and embryo transfer have significantly improved genetic progress in beef cattle. Yet, one major biological limitation continues to constrain reproductive efficiency across operations: early embryonic mortality.

A productive cow can only have one calf per year. For generations, that biological limit has defined how fast beef producers can make genetic progress in their herds. No matter how elite a female is, her influence on a herd is constrained by time.

With U.S. cow herd size at a 75-year low and with no reprieve in sight, it’s never been more important to protect your cattle and operation. Farmers and ranchers should consider how to protect their animals and operation before it is too late. Here are a few of the topics shared at Cattlemen’s College during NCBA’s CattleCon 2026 in in Nashville, Tennessee.

Research and breeding experience show that estrus expression is not exactly a yes-or-no trait. Rather, estrus exists on a spectrum, and where a female falls within that range can have a significant impact on reproductive success.

Some beef producers are fascinated by an old Spanish breed that may revolutionize high-end restaurants with tender, delicious steaks. Learn more about the Rubia Gallega breed, the Old Cow or Vaca Vieja, and the newest breed association, the American Rubia Gallega Association.

It’s fair to say embryo transfer (ET) isn’t a common practice for most U.S. beef herds. Current data indicate that less than 5% of cow-calf operations have adopted ET technology.

Doyle Sanders didn’t go to Turkey in 2016 with cattle on his mind. Well, that’s probably not entirely true; Sanders – who owns Dbl D Bar Ranch in central Texas and is a tireless advocate for the Beefmaster breed – is likely to have bovine on the brain at any given point in time.

Nestled in Cartwright, Manitoba, is Silver Lake Farms, a family operation that is a testament to strategic breeding, agricultural innovation and generational commitment to livestock excellence.