Even small calves are worth more than NO calves!
Dr. Scott Lake & Dr. Gary Moss
Therefore as people in the cattle industry it is crucial that we take the time to manage our herds and our land to the best of our ability. I have researched many methods and have found a few facts that might be helpful in improving your herd. I hope you find these facts useful and if you would like more detailed information please don't hesitate to contact me.
Here are some files that if opened will help explain EPD's.
Here are some files that if opened will help explain EPD's.
| dollarvalue_w_half_horz.pdf |
| epd_sale_book_insert.pdf |
Improving Bull Fertility
In a study done by the Journal of Animal Science it has been determined that bulls fed a higher-energy diet through yearling age lost testicular tone over time as well as had lower mobility in their sperm. As a result we feed our bulls a moderate-energy diet giving our bulls an advantage when it comes to normal sperm and higher motility in sperm. In bulls scrotal circumference is an important fertility variable as it has been shown to be highly associated with testes weight, sperm output, semen quality traits, and age of puberty in heifer progeny. Moderate underfeeding or overfeeding during post weaning periods has prolonged influence on the productive performance of heifers and bulls.
The Importance of Accurate Feed
Overfeeding, however, may result in weak estrous symptoms, subnormal conception rate, high embryonic mortality, decreased mammary gland development and decreased milk production.
PAP Testing - The Facts
Commonly known as High-Altitude disease; brisket or high-mountain disease, dropsy, or big brisket effect every cattle rancher running cattle at elevation from 5000 feet and higher. The cause of "brisket disease" is chronic low-oxygen tension causing the small pulmonary arteries to thicken, resulting in high blood pressure and a weakened heart. The pressure and fluid that builds in the brisket and chest area causes too much pressure on the heart and stops the heart from circulation blood sufficiently causing congestive heart failure. "Factors contributing to HAD include respiratory diseases, pneumonia, lungworm, chronic cold temperatures of less than 10* F and genetic heritability. Genetically susceptible cattle are more prone to develop HAD in the presence of the other factors." (http://www.angusjournal.com/articlepdf/1100aj_tybar.pdf) “We’re looking for scores in the mid-30s to 40, he says. "We get concerned with scores of 45 and up. I've seen numerous animals die of high-altitude disease after scoring 49 or 50." Dr. Tim Holt. The older the animal the better chance of hypertension so it is normal to expect a higher PAP score on older bulls that are still safe to use on high elevation cows.
PAP scores and how they should be used.
mmHg Evaluation
30-35 An excellent and highly reliable score
36-40 An excellent score for any animal older than 12 months. For a younger animal, the score is fairly reliable; but retesting is suggested.
<41 Reliable score in all animals older than 12 months. It is recommended that yearling cattle score less than 41, depending on testing altitude.
41-45 An acceptable score for animals older than 6 months. Younger animals should be retested.
45-48 An acceptable score for animals older than 6 months that have been in high elevations for an extended period. These animals should be considered at some risk. Testing altitude and animal’s location should be considered.
>49 Animals in this range are considered at high risk for themselves and their offspring.Many animals scoring in this range have died of HAD.
PAP scores and how they should be used.
mmHg Evaluation
30-35 An excellent and highly reliable score
36-40 An excellent score for any animal older than 12 months. For a younger animal, the score is fairly reliable; but retesting is suggested.
<41 Reliable score in all animals older than 12 months. It is recommended that yearling cattle score less than 41, depending on testing altitude.
41-45 An acceptable score for animals older than 6 months. Younger animals should be retested.
45-48 An acceptable score for animals older than 6 months that have been in high elevations for an extended period. These animals should be considered at some risk. Testing altitude and animal’s location should be considered.
>49 Animals in this range are considered at high risk for themselves and their offspring.Many animals scoring in this range have died of HAD.
Common questions asked by our buyers
Q; Is a high or lower number better for ww and yw EPDs?
A; The higher the number for both of these epds the better expected gain for the bulls progeny's overall weight gain.
Q; Do I want a high bw or a low bw?
A: A lower bw is preferred for heifer bulls with the American Angus Association stating in order to be called a heifer bull it has to have a bw of 2.5 or lower. Higher bw is acceptable for a bull on mature cows.
Q; What is CED and do I want a high or low number?
A; CED stands for: Calving Ease Direct, the higher the number the better calving ease and unassisted births.
Q; How accurate are the EPDs?
A; Is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is
impacted by the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the analysis.
Q; What are genetic defects?
A; arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), neuropathic hydrocephalus (NH), contractural arachnodactyly (CA), myostatin nt821 gene deletion (M1) and PRKG2 gene mutation for dwarfism (D2). More information on these defects can be found in this article:
Q: Do you PAP test your cows?
A: No, we only run at 5000-6000 feet in elevation. If we PAP tested at this level it wouldn't be an accurate measure of the animals ability to run at a higher elevation. However, this year we will be running cows at 7000 feet and hope to implement this effective tool.
A; The higher the number for both of these epds the better expected gain for the bulls progeny's overall weight gain.
Q; Do I want a high bw or a low bw?
A: A lower bw is preferred for heifer bulls with the American Angus Association stating in order to be called a heifer bull it has to have a bw of 2.5 or lower. Higher bw is acceptable for a bull on mature cows.
Q; What is CED and do I want a high or low number?
A; CED stands for: Calving Ease Direct, the higher the number the better calving ease and unassisted births.
Q; How accurate are the EPDs?
A; Is the reliability that can be placed on the EPD. An accuracy of close to 1.0 indicates higher reliability. Accuracy is
impacted by the number of progeny and ancestral records included in the analysis.
Q; What are genetic defects?
A; arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), neuropathic hydrocephalus (NH), contractural arachnodactyly (CA), myostatin nt821 gene deletion (M1) and PRKG2 gene mutation for dwarfism (D2). More information on these defects can be found in this article:
Q: Do you PAP test your cows?
A: No, we only run at 5000-6000 feet in elevation. If we PAP tested at this level it wouldn't be an accurate measure of the animals ability to run at a higher elevation. However, this year we will be running cows at 7000 feet and hope to implement this effective tool.
| genetic_defects.pdf |
The Bulls Contribution to Fertility
- Scrotal Circumference: For each 1 cm increase in scrotal circumference, daughters of a bull have historically been predicted to reach puberty 4 days earlier.
- Use the right heifer bull: Mortimer (CSU) indicated that cows that suffer calving difficulties have a 15.9% reduction in conception rate.
- Heritability estimates: Reproduction less than .20; Growth between .20 - .40; Carcass high above .40!
How to help your cows become and stay pregnant
- Develop heifers so that they reach puberty (first estrus) 1-3 months before breeding. Fertility at first pubertal estrus is 21% lower at first than third estrus (Patterson et al., 1999). Breed heifers before cows to provide more time for young females to re-initiate estrous cycles after calving.
- Decrease stress near the time of "maternal recognition of pregnancy". Fertilization rates of between 90-100% occur due to a SINGLE SERVICE, however, early embryonic mortality (before day 27 of pregnancy) ranges from 20 to 44% (Geary, 2005) partially due to genetic abnormalities, expression of lethal genes, abnormal chromosomal numbers, etc. STRESS, however, near day 8-16 following breeding reduced pregnancy rates. TRANSPORTATION on days 8-12 reduced 45-60 day pregnancy rates by 6% compared to transportation on day 1-4.
- NUTRITION: Nutritional status of the female is the most important determinate of producing a calf. Up to 70% of costs associated with producing a calf are those associated with winter feed costs for the pregnant dam.
Expected Progeny Difference - EPD
- EPD is the expected difference in the future progeny performance of one individual relative to another individual.
- EPDs can be used to compare all cattle within a breed.
- EPDs DO NOT predict actual performance.
- EPDs data consist of: Individual, pedigree, progeny, and genomic result.
30 calves at 570# 30 calves at 550#
Bull 1 Bull 2
$128,250.00 5 years $123,750.00
$1.50/lb
$4,500.00
Projected Gross Value difference
- CED: Heifer calving ease: Use as a tool in choosing sires mated to first-calf heifers. Increase the chance of easier calving.
- CEM: Calving ease maternal: use as a tool to choose sires of replacement heifers. Increase first-calf daughters easier calving.
- http://angus.org/Nce/PercentBreakdown.aspx this link has useful information on the American Angus Association website detailing where you want your EPD numbers to be. sometimes it is hard to know if you want a high or a low number.
References:
Bellows, R.A. and M.A. Lammoglia. 1996. Management decisions to optimize reproduction and profit. Beef 2 (5): 5-7. Montanta State University, Bozeman.
Geary, T. 2005. Managment strategies to reduce embryonic loss. Range Beef Cow Symposium XIX.
http://beef.unl.edu/beefreports/symp-2005-09-XIX.shtml
Patterson, D.J., S.L. Wood, and R.F. Randle. 1999. Procedures that support reproductive management of replacement beef heifers. Proc. Am. Soc. Animal Sci.
Ringwall, K. 2011. BeefTalk: First-cycle conception has been remarkably stable. Beeftalk.com. www.ag.ndsu.ndak.edu
Moss, G,. and Lake, S. 2011. Maintaing Reproductive Performance. Angus Boot Camp. University of Wyoming, Laramie.
Bowman, B., Genetic Selection Tools and Bull Selection
http://www.angusjournal.com/articlepdf/1100aj_tybar.pdf
http://www.journalofanimalscience.org/content/90/9/2963.full.pdf+html?sid=b633bccb-b1d0-4f6e-8ba1-55e3456dcc97
Almquist et al., 1976; Brinks et al., 1978; Coulter and Foote, 1979; Gregory et al., 1991).
Crawling References:
http://www.internationalparentingassociation.org/BrainDevelopment/mobility1.html
http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therapy.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/can-horses-help-treat-children-with-autism-the-answer-may-surprise-you
http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/gentle-horses-help-rein-childhood-autism-38738443
Bellows, R.A. and M.A. Lammoglia. 1996. Management decisions to optimize reproduction and profit. Beef 2 (5): 5-7. Montanta State University, Bozeman.
Geary, T. 2005. Managment strategies to reduce embryonic loss. Range Beef Cow Symposium XIX.
http://beef.unl.edu/beefreports/symp-2005-09-XIX.shtml
Patterson, D.J., S.L. Wood, and R.F. Randle. 1999. Procedures that support reproductive management of replacement beef heifers. Proc. Am. Soc. Animal Sci.
Ringwall, K. 2011. BeefTalk: First-cycle conception has been remarkably stable. Beeftalk.com. www.ag.ndsu.ndak.edu
Moss, G,. and Lake, S. 2011. Maintaing Reproductive Performance. Angus Boot Camp. University of Wyoming, Laramie.
Bowman, B., Genetic Selection Tools and Bull Selection
http://www.angusjournal.com/articlepdf/1100aj_tybar.pdf
http://www.journalofanimalscience.org/content/90/9/2963.full.pdf+html?sid=b633bccb-b1d0-4f6e-8ba1-55e3456dcc97
Almquist et al., 1976; Brinks et al., 1978; Coulter and Foote, 1979; Gregory et al., 1991).
Crawling References:
http://www.internationalparentingassociation.org/BrainDevelopment/mobility1.html
http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therapy.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/can-horses-help-treat-children-with-autism-the-answer-may-surprise-you
http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/gentle-horses-help-rein-childhood-autism-38738443
