Author: Charles May
Planning Unit: Perry County CES
Major Program: Beef
Plan of Work: Agricultural Marketing
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Three Perry County beef producers, representing 150 brood cows, are participating in the new East Kentucky Integrated Reproduction Management Program. This is a multidisciplinary program that assist producers by adoption of production practices that favor high reproductive rates in their cow herds. These practices include, having a defined calving season, herd health program and a sound nutritional program. This is a long-term project that combines education in the classroom with an extensive hands-on, learn by doing approach. On a regional basics this program has made tremendous impact in just three short years of it being implemented. 110 producers have enrolled in the program, 3 of which are from Perry County. This represents 2,564 cows. Forty-nine producers moved from a year around calving season to a controlled calving season. 35 producers moved from an extended calving season to a controlled calving season. 25 of the producers with a controlled calving season increased their reproduction rate efficiency by using synchronization protocols for natural service and artificial insemination for both spring and fall calving. The average conception rate increased by 6% from 83% to 89%. 2280 cows weaned calves that weighed an average of 530 pounds (1,051,308 total pounds). The value of each calf $151.96/cwt or $846,712,950 in total value in 2017. The cooperators in the program weaned 183,374 more pounds in 2017 than the beginning of the program which resulted in an increase in revenue of $278,655. Revenue increased $2,533.23 per cooperator which is a 26% increase in gross revenue. In Perry County we assisted the cooperators with implementation of Individual production plans. Farm visits were conducted to ensure that the production plans were followed. Evaluations from this program actually show a slightly higher success rate that the regional averages. We achieved a 94% pregnancy rate. This is a 14% improvement from the beginning of the program. 78% of the cows in the program calved in the first 30 days of the calving season, and the calving season was reduced by 56 days. Having a shorter calving season can increase the value of the calves by $77.00 from an uncontrolled calving season. One of the Perry County participants said that this program has helped is operation in several ways. He said it allowed for a tighter grouping of calves, stricter culling standards for animals that is not making him maximum profits. He said he had also improved his herd genetics through artificial insemination and better natural bull selection and stated that the wealth of information he has received is priceless. This producer was so impressed by the results obtained from artificial insemination that he became certified to do his own artificial insemination. Another Perry County producers has switched from a spring to a fall calving season and reported this has resulted in weaning weight increases and increase profits.
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