Reproductive Health

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.

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.

Understanding lactation and cow efficiency

travis.mulliniks@oregonstate.edu — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In the past 20 years, genetic potential of the cow herd and production costs have steadily increased; however, production outputs (pregnancy rates and weaning weights) have been stagnant or declined.

Consequences of overconditioning beef bulls

pedrofontes@uga.edu — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Sire overconditioning is a prevalent issue in the beef industry. While “fat sells” when it comes to selling bulls, research has shown that excessive conditioning can negatively affect semen quality.

[Podcast] Red Angus Conference – with Rick Funston and Jordan Shockley

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The October podcast goes to Denver, Colorado, for the Red Angus annual conference where David Cooper interviews Rick Funston and Jordan Shockley. Funston, a reproductive physiologist with University of Nebraska – Lincoln, explains numerous factors toward efficiency in repro rates, heifer selection and reproductive success.

Thinking beyond VL5 for reproductive vaccines

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:39:20 -0400

As cow-calf producers and veterinarians evaluate options for pre-breeding vaccinations on heifers and cows, it is critical to think about the long-term effects of the disease pathogens that you are protecting against.

Pregnancy loss: Non-infectious causes

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 15:00:01 -0500

Sometimes accidents of gestation or other factors terminate pregnancy. Immediately after conception, when the tiny embryo is traveling down the oviduct into the uterus, it is fairly safe from harmful influences, but after it reaches the uterus a few days later, it becomes more vulnerable.