Chelsey Siemens - Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist

For cow-calf operations, a major driver of profitability is reproductive efficiency, or the number of calves weaned per cow exposed. There are a lot of factors influencing this outcome, from breeding time through weaning. However, some considerations can be looked at well before the breeding season begins.

After calving, cows will have about 30 to 100 days to recover, resume cycling and be re-bred to calve around the same time the following year. This period through calving and early lactation is when a cow’s requirements for energy and protein are the highest.

For cow-calf operations, a major component of profitability is reproductive efficiency or the number of calves weaned per cow exposed. When open rates are higher than expected, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause; there may be many factors that contributed. Dry conditions over the past several years have impacted many aspects of beef operations, including those that contribute to open rates.