Reproductive management of beef cattle

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the reproductive management strategies and biotechnologies currently available to optimize reproductive performance of beef cattle. Reproductive failures have a major impact on beef production efficiency around the world; therefore, strategies that overcome these failures will have a major impact on global beef production. Within the main challenges impacting reproductive efficiency of beef cattle, the primary focus of the discussion will be associated with heifer development and puberty attainment, and postpartum anestrus of suckled beef cows. In addition, because 70% of the world's cattle population is located in tropical and subtropical regions of planet and is composed of predominantly Bos indicus breeds, the challenges associated with the physiological differences between B. indicus and Bos taurus cattle are also discussed in this chapter.