Breeding Time Decisions in my Cow Herd

Last week, my brother, dad, and I drove through my pairs at the ranch. We discussed which cows needed to be culled and sent to town, which cows were going to be AI’d, and we also spent time analyzing the outcome of my breeding decisions made this time last year. To be honest, this is one of my most favorite weeks of the year, yet it is also incredibly nerve-racking for me.

Bull Selection is Key

My operation depends on the choices I make in regards to what herd bulls I use, when my cows are bred, and how they are bred. That is a lot of pressure! I have no idea what next spring is going to look like. Do I want to calve in February or April? What is the weather going to do? These are challenges that every cattle producer has to go through, and we each have to weigh those decisions based on what works best for us. 

Bull Selection Process & Results

Genetic combinations are challenging- picking bulls and mother cows is a job I take very seriously.  I spend hours researching AI sires, talking to experts, reading through EPDs and looking at bulls on paper and in person while at sales. I make note of sire groups I really like, along with stand-out females I see. I then go through my cows with a critical eye. What holes do my cows have that I need my bulls to fill? The hardest part is knowing that the same bull can throw two completely different calves, because of the genetics of the cow. The fact that I won’t see the results from today’s choices for more than a year from now is a challenge too- it is both delayed gratification, and delayed stress. 

Keep Looking Forward with Genetic Decisions

I just want to encourage you during this breeding season. Keep in mind that while there is a lot we can control (the animals we choose and our timing), there is a lot we can’t control. I think we all feel a lot of pressure to choose the right animals, along with being excited about what our next calf crop is going to look like. I know oftentimes, it is hard to look back and reward ourselves for the choices we made last year, because it is easier to nit-pick after the fact. It’s easy to say, “Oh, I should have chosen a bull that would have cleaned up the udders a little better, or I wish I would have picked bulls five years ago that had better feet”.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and there is always something to keep improving upon. The important part is that we keep making the best decisions we can with the information we have at that time. Evaluating for traits you can improve and making the decision to remove traits from your herd that may not be able to be improved is one of the most powerful steps you can take to grow in the right direction.

Breeding Program - CIDR program and AI

This year, we did the seven day CIDR program. We will start AI’ing today, and will spend the next few days heat detecting and getting cows AI’d. I have high expectations for the bulls I have chosen, and expect them to do great things for my herd. I will be utilizing genetics from Connealy Confidence and SAV Rainfall bulls this year. Just as many of you will be, I will cross my fingers and hope that I’ve made decisions that will lead to exceptional results.

Goal-Oriented Breeding Program

On our ranch, our goals are to have cows that produce well, have some calves that will make great herd bulls to put up for sale, have heifer calves that become quality females, and overall, have calves that tip the scales come next fall. I am excited to see the fruits of these labors hit the ground next spring and watch them grow. You can bet I will be making notes on what worked and what needs to change for next year.