Practical Reproduction Strategies for Utah Beef Ranches

Fertility is the most important factor contributing to the profit of a beef cattle operation and is critical for sustainability. Simply, cows that do not wean a live calf do not generate any revenue to offset several months of accumulated expenses, care and management. Many years ago the common goal was to produce a live calf every year. Modern livestock marketing practices demand more than just a calf every 365 days. In fact, a uniform calf crop is the expectation and in turn requires a short breeding season, 45-60 days. One method of achieving a uniform calf crop and a short breeding season is by selecting highly fertile females which breed early and maintain their pregnancy until calving.