Success StoryApplication of Beef Management Protocols Dramatically Increase Productivity



Application of Beef Management Protocols Dramatically Increase Productivity

Author: Leslie Anderson

Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences

Major Program: Beef

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Reproductive success governs production efficiency in beef cow-calf operations. The University of Kentucky Beef Integrated Reproductive Management (Beef IRM) team developed a multi-disciplinary program to help cattlemen adopt production practices that favor high reproductive rates in their cow herds. The educational model of this program combines traditional classroom with an extensive hands-on, learn-by-doing methodology. UK Extension employs this model as an effort to increase behavior modification. The UK IRM Farm Program is designed to be a long-term project (5-7 years) in order to accurately demonstrate the impact of controlling reproduction.


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Hamilton Farms has been a part of the UK Farm Program since 2015. Mr. Hamilton resides in Bracken County and runs a small herd of Limousin-influenced cattle. In the first year of the program, the cows that calved in the spring of 2015 were held open until the fall breeding season. In 2015, only 56% of the cows calved in the desired window. Six cows were sold in 2015 for various reasons that included: age, feet/leg problems, and not having a calf. Two open replacement heifers were purchased as well. Mr. Hamilton was also interested in the benefits of using estrous synchronization and AI. In the first breeding season in the program, 12 cows were bred using a timed-AI protocol. He had one late-calving cow that received a CIDR device to help move her up in the calving season. Half of the females conceived to the AI, 12 of the 13 cows had and weaned a calf, and 100% of the herd calved in the desired window. The calving season took place in a 60-day window, beginning September 9th and ending on November 11th. When we look at the increase in weaning weight per cow exposed to the bull, from 2015 to 2016, an increase of 88 pounds (311 lbs to 399 lbs) was observed. Using the current market value (average of steer and heifer) for a 300 lb calf ($155/cwt) and 400 lb calf ($146/cwt), this 88-pound increase equates to an additional revenue of $119 per cow.


The results from Mr. Hamilton’s operation over the last two years are depicted in the table below.


2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

# Cows

17

13

18

24

23

# of Calves Born

16

12

17

21

23

Calving Percentage

94%

92%

94%

88%

100%

# of Calves Weaned

13

12

17

20

23

% Weaned / Cow Exposed

76%

92%

94%

83%

100%

Total Weaning Weight (lbs)

5281

5184

8,371

9,414

10,724

Wean Weight / Cow Exposed (lbs)

311

399

369


393


466

Date of First Calf

1/14/2015

9/10/2016

9/8/2017

8/15/18

8/22/19

Date of Last Calf

12/22/2015

11/9/2016

10/24/2017

10/20/18

10/11/19

Calving Season Length

342

60

36

48

51

% Calving in Desired Window

56%

100%

100%


100%


100%

AI %


50%

75%

59%

65%









The UK IRM Farm Program has made a tremendous impact on this farm. The calving season length was shortened from 342 days to less than 60 days, increased weaning percentage, and increased the pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed by 155 pounds that results in an increase of $4,635 increase in revenue.






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