Breeding Strategies

Why embryo production is a worthy investment for your operation

raegan.jacobsbell@transova.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If your herd looks the same year after year, your genetics – and your profitability – are standing still. In today’s dairy landscape, standing still isn’t neutral. It’s falling behind. Reproductive strategy in dairies is no longer just about pregnancy rates; it’s about compounding progress across generations.

Planning your herd’s genetic future: 4 points to consider

gpowers@genex.coop — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Although the industry has achieved rapid genetic advancement, with today’s competitive market, return on investment (ROI) is imperative. Here are several steps to consider when planning your herd’s genetic future for the best possible return on investment.

From assumptions to actuals: What farm data can tell us about heifer supply

romulo.germano@parnell.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Higher beef prices have created opportunities for dairy operations to generate additional revenue through dairy-beef crosses, raising an important and recurring question: Should I be breeding more beef semen or more dairy sexed semen in my herd?

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.

Progressive mating strategies drive genetic progress: Results from recent study

lb5624@psu.edu — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Herds that genotyped and used all semen types had heifers with more than a $100 advantage in net merit than those that used all semen types but did not genotype heifers.

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.

Bull buying strategies among large cow-calf producers

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Bull buying strategies are a critical component of success for cow-calf producers across Canada. With operations ranging from small family farms to large-scale commercial enterprises, an important question must be asked: Do purchasing tactics differ depending on the size of the farm or ranch?

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.

Composite conversation

kenny.wells@genusplc.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Composite breeds of cattle are built on the concept of breed complementarity – combining the desirable characteristics of two or more breeds of cattle in a way that simultaneously masks or lessens each breed’s weaknesses.

Improving rebreeding success in fall-calving cows

jbhall@uidaho.edu — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Fall calving has its advantages for calf survivability, marketing and reducing calving stress. However, the challenges of fall and winter breeding require some adjustments to management to ensure success.

Weighing the benefits of using crossbred beef bulls

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Crossbreeding beef cattle boosts performance and productivity by mixing genetics, leading to better weaning weights, reproductive efficiency and overall herd health. Often, the practice is reserved for females, but more seedstock and commercial producers are turning their eye toward males to identify potential benefits and profit opportunities.

Genetic evaluations: Change is in the air

atie.schmitt@uscdcb.com — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

On April 1, the routine five-year genetic base change was implemented for the U.S. genetic evaluations produced by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB). Here is what farmers and industry professionals need to know.

Combining strategies: Using estrus synchronization with natural service

lacey.quail@ndsu.edu — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Before we know it, another breeding season will be upon us. As cattle producers, I think we’re all aware of how uniformity contributes to profitability, regardless of your marketing strategy.

Building a new breed: The American Black Hereford

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In the early 1980s, producers who raised Herefords and other breeds with red hides were hit with a significant discount at feedyards and sale barns.

Efficiency matters, both in your feedlot and for your cow herd

kenny.wells@genusplc.com — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Efficiency is efficiency, right? Turns out, it’s probably not that simple. Efficiency in a feedlot and at the cow-calf level are two very different things.

[Podcast] Terminal crossbreeding and regenerative ranching – with Mark Thallman and Josh Gaskamp

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Tyrell visits with Mark Thallman from the USDA's Meat Animal Research Center about the merits and drawbacks of implementing terminal crossbreeding systems. Then, the Noble Research Institute's Josh Gaskamp joins Carrie to chat about how educational opportunities for producers to better their land for long-term profitability. Finally, join the gang as they discuss the joys of county fair season, weigh in on what tattoo Paul should get (and where), and debate the viewing value of various Olympic sports.

Don’t strike out this breeding season

ruff.72@osu.edu — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Many livestock economists have demonstrated over the years that there is a premium in the marketplace for uniform lots of calves. For further proof, just watch what happens at the local auction market when it comes to selling feeder cattle and then tune in to one of the online video auctions and compare prices.

Know your marketplace: The impact of beef-on-dairy

adrianne.trennepohl@genusplc.com — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

More and more people are putting beef on their plates at the dinner table, which is driving up global demand for premium beef as a vital source of animal protein.

Use of estrus synchronization with natural service

jasonwarner@ksu.edu — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As managers of cow-calf production systems, we have available to us many different tools that may be used to accomplish tasks within our operations. Every tool, no matter what type, is designed for a specific purpose.

Know your marketplace: Hand-pick genetics to maximize profitability

kenny.wells@genusplc.com — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 15:09:22 -0500

Maternal traits have been the core consideration for cow-calf producers when making breeding decisions and for good reason. The cow is the engine of productivity at the producer level.

Genetic improvement driven by distinct factors

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

“Genetic improvement” is a term with far-reaching implications, uniquely and individually defined by those in the beef industry.

Crossbreeding: The beef industry’s most underutilized tool

trowan@utk.edu — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Crossbreeding isn’t a new technology. We’ve known about it and have been doing it for ages. Yet, crossbreeding remains a severely underutilized tool industrywide, with less than 50% of commercial operations using it meaningfully.

What’s the beef with beef-on-dairy calves?

zeb_gray@diamondv.com — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:21:31 -0400

The number of straws of beef semen sold to the dairy industry has more than doubled in the last five years, although dairy cow numbers have been relatively stagnant. So what has changed?

Six Things You May Not Know About Akaushi Cattle

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Akaushi (pronounced ah-kuh-OO-shi), or Japanese Red, is one of the four Wagyu breeds. Akaushi genetics can make an immediate impact on your next calf crop. You’ll find Akaushi cattle on ranches spanning from coast to coast.

Adjustment factors help producers navigate use of multiple breeds

bglaze@uidaho.edu — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

To remain competitive in today’s beef industry, commercial producers must identify and implement technologies that have favorable impacts on their beef cattle enterprises, and crossbreeding is one such technology.

Why are dairy-beef crosses so prominent right now?

zeb_gray@diamondv.com — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years, the dairy industry has witnessed a significant rise in the number of beef cross calves being born. This emerging trend of crossbreeding dairy cows with beef bulls at a large scale has not been a linear process.

Dairy producer attitudes about beef-on-dairy

tfelix@psu.edu — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:58:11 -0400

As cattle producers – beef or dairy – it is critical to remember that both our industries have the same end product: beef. This concept that all cattle contribute to beef production has never been more closely aligned than with the current growth in the mating of dairy cows to beef semen.

Six Things You May Not Know About Akaushi Cattle

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 13:27:07 -0400

Akaushi (pronounced Ah-ka-OO-shi), or Japanese Red, is one of the four Wagyu breeds. Since their introduction to the U.S., American Akaushi genetics have increased carcass performance and premium grade opportunities for cattle producers.

West: Is fall calving an option for you?

cwillmore@uidaho.edu — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 21:50:03 -0400

With historic cow slaughter numbers we have seen over the past year, I think many of us are wondering what the cull cow market will look like this fall.

Building benefits through Wagyu cattle and crosses

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 21:17:34 -0400

A growing number of commercial cattlemen are discovering advantages of using Wagyu bulls (or semen) in their herds, especially to breed heifers.