Livestock Management RANCHING
Prepping Heifers and Cows for the Breeding Season By Dr. Glenn Rogers
F
OR MANY RANCHERS, CALVING SEASON IS NEAR. WHILE THE more immediate concern is maximizing the num-
ber of live calves, it is also time to plan for the next breeding season. Body condition at calving has been shown to be
highly correlated with cow rebreeding success. Main- taining or even increasing body condition in cows and fi rst-calf heifers prior to calving is usually more economically feasible than trying to increase body condition during lactation. Heifers should be in body condition score 6 at breeding, and cows should calve with a body condition score of at least 5. In addition to monitoring herd body condition, the
cow herd immunization program should be considered. A basic principle of immunology is to immunize prior to a disease challenge. Vaccinating heifers 30 to 60 days prior to the start of the breeding season allows a peak immunologic response from vaccination to occur early in the breeding season and early pregnancy. This is a time when many reproductive diseases can have their greatest effect. The replacement heifer pre-breeding vaccination
program is the foundation for establishment of life- time cow herd immunity and the logical fi rst step in improving cow herd vaccination programs. Heifers generally have less immunity to common
38 The Cattleman January 2014
reproductive diseases than mature cows. Substantial carryover effect in cowherd immunity occurs when an initial, sound pre-breeding health management program for heifers is implemented. With shorter, controlled breeding seasons, cows can be vaccinated after calving and before breeding. Even in herds that have extended breeding seasons
or choose not to implement pre-breeding vaccination in the mature cowherd, improvements in heifer pre- breeding management can usually be successfully implemented. Vaccination against IBR, BVD, leptospirosis and
vibrio should be administered. Failure to vaccinate at the correct time may result in decreased reproductive performance, even when the best products available are used. To learn more about correct timing of vaccina-
tions, turn to “Prepping Replacements” on page 39. Editor’s note: David T. Bechtol, D.V.M. of Palo Duro
Consultation, Research & Feedlot with the help and support of other colleagues and Merck Animal Health is providing a quick reference sheet on what to watch for and provide to your beef cattle herd during your 2014 calendar of events. Dr. Glenn Rogers with Grassy Ridge Consulting provides this month’s information.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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