Reproduction

Docility: Understanding pressure and selection

kramsey@neogen.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Home to a few onion sheds, a grocery store and a handful of hometown restaurants, every Wednesday the town becomes Grand Central Station for nearly every cattle operation within 150 miles.

The importance of the skeletal system to cattle production

katie.shira@wsu.edu — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Over time, selection pressure for improved growth efficiency and earlier reproductive maturity in cattle has focused heavily on muscle development, fat deposition and reproductive performance, while the skeletal system is often overlooked. However, these same selection pressures also influence skeletal growth and maturity, making proper bone development critical to overall cattle performance.

The ovaries need air conditioning

caleb@rbnutritionconsulting.ca — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Weather patterns have been difficult to nail down with any degree of accuracy this year. In Saskatchewan, late snowfall has delayed thawing and therefore grass growth and typical seeding plans.

South Central: What makes a good commercial cow

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The list of traits that make a good commercial cow may vary some by producer. However, there are several fundamental things every producer should keep in mind when evaluating commercial cows.

Southeast: Pounds weaned per acre – rethinking metrics

kmason21@utk.edu — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Bigger calves are beneficial, but weaning weight alone doesn’t tell the full story.

When it comes to genetic improvement, phenotypes are king

trowan@utk.edu — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

When we look back at the evolution of genetic improvement in the beef industry, almost all of our major improvements have come relatively recently. Each of the steps in this evolution improved the accuracy with which we make selection decisions.

Semen-handling protocols for successful pregnancies

katie.martin@urus.org — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Bringing them home

maward@nmsu.edu — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Don’t put calving records away – put them to use!

dschwab@iastate.edu — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Many beef producers keep a decent set of calving records, but what good are they if you don’t use them to analyze your management and herd performance? Before we can dive into a few suggestions to measure your management success, we need to look back at the previous year’s breeding season.

Beyond energy: Using fat supplementation to improve pregnancy success

pedrofontes@uga.edu — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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 90‑day countdown plan: Preparing cows for breeding season

jessica.drum@sdstate.edu — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

The fast lane

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Southeast: The critical window

kmason21@utk.edu — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:09:17 -0500

Good nutrition means greater reproductive success, and reproductive success drives profitability in the cow-calf sector.

West: Making smart culling decisions after calving

cwillmore@uidaho.edu — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

While removing animals from the herd can be a difficult decision, addressing problem cows early helps prevent repeated issues in future calving seasons.

Why aren’t all heats created equal?

wbechtel@broadheadco.com — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Selection indexes: Simplifying sire selection

katie.martin@urus.org — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Bull sale season is one of the most anticipated times of the year in a cattle operation, offering an opportunity to shape the future of the herd. Unfortunately, it may also bring confusion. Over time, the amount of data available to guide sire selection decisions has grown significantly. While more information can lead to better outcomes, it can also create undue stress and decision fatigue.

Getting on the same page: Helping bull buyers and sellers understand each other

trowan@utk.edu — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The bull purchase is unlike any other decision that gets made by a cow-calf operation. It carries enormous importance to the success of a herd. The average bull will have a far larger genetic footprint than even the most productive cows, siring well over 100 calves over the course of his time in a herd.

Selecting for improved productivity and adaptability in fescue environments

ebrajo@ncsu.edu — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

To succeed in the Fescue Belt – particularly in endophyte-infected pastures – producers should chase these traits in their herds.

Maintain body condition for optimal returns

david.secrist@usu.edu — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Synch smarter, not harder

grippe@genex.coop — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Collecting genomic samples: Why, when, how and best practices

arobinson@neogen.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Collecting a genomic sample is as easy as tagging a calf. To help ensure actionable results, let’s review key genomic sample collection best practices for a clear path to progress cattle herd goals forward – beginning with why genomics matters, when to collect samples and how to take samples correctly to keep herd improvement goals moving forward.

Managing cow size, bull selection in rangeland operations

dave.bohnert@oregonstate.edu — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Over the past several decades, beef cows have quietly gotten bigger. In 1975, the average beef cow weighed just over 1,000 pounds; by 2009, that number had jumped to 1,350 pounds, and today, many herds include cows tipping the scales at 1,400 pounds or more.

Finding the right bull for the ranch

megan.vanemon@montana.edu — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Getting that next calf

kalyn.waters@ufl.edu — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

'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.

Decoding pregnancy loss in beef cattle

kimberly.davenport@wsu.edu — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Pregnancy loss is one of the most frustrating and costly reproductive challenges in beef cattle production. Even with good nutrition, thoughtful bull selection and sound management, we still deal with open cows, early embryonic loss and the occasional unexplained abortion.

Moving quality forward faster in building back the cow herd

arobinson@neogen.com — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As the industry works to build back the cow herd after reaching historic low numbers, quality genetics will remain key to continue progressing herds, and the industry, forward.

Match your bull purchase with your ranch production goals

shannonw@uidaho.edu — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Choosing the correct bull(s) for your operation is extremely important. The cows in your operation influence one calf per year, but a bull has the potential to influence up to 25 or more calves per year.

Embryo transfer trends and opportunities for beef herds

jeremy.howard@simplot.com — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Nutrition and reproduction: Why body condition and mineral status decide your bottom line

tcperry@landolakes.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Midwest/North: Breeding season tips for fall-calving herds

wmeteer@gmail.com — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While general breeding practices are similar to spring-calving herds, breeding fall-calving cows can pose some unique challenges.