IRM Farm Program Dr. Les Anderson

Low Market Thoughts Many will not make money Management usually “pays” Focus on things you can control Costs (feed and forage) Quality (genetics, health) Quantity (repro) Marketing plan (also impacted by repro)

Impact of Controlling Reproduction Directly impacts gross income Increases the number of calves to market Increases market weight by increasing the age of the average calf Indirect effects on profitability Reduces labor Reduces cost of production

Kentucky Cattle Herd Statistics Over 75% of farms with less than 25 head do not have a controlled calving season In EKY most farms are small and around 90% of them have extended calving windows

Issues with Long Calving Economic analysis of 394 ranches in TX, OK, NM (Parker et al., 2004) Positive relationship number of days of the breeding season and the cost of production Cost per 100# of calf increased 4.7₵ for each day # of calf weaned per year decreased .158 per day Year-round calves sold 45.82 fewer pounds of calf per cow per year and the cost of production was $13.63 per hundredweight more.

Data from Univ of Arkansas 6 farms, all year round calvers. Took 3-5 years to transition to one 90-day season. Production Item Before… After…. Length of the calving season 273 ± 85 d 85 ± 5 d Percentage of cows that calved when desired 46 ± 14% 92 ± 12% Mature cow calving percentage 89.2 ± 6% 87.2±10% Herd breakeven ($/lb) $.61 ± .22 $.43 ± .25 Specified costs per AU ($) $210 ± 145 $126 ± 40 Income over specified cost per AU ($) $95 ± 68 $190 ± 134

Evolution IRM Farm Program Pilot Program in NKY Implemented in the Appalachian Region Basic philosophy = project-based learning Two educational seminars but emphasis on personal training and field days

Changes Interested in Heath Nutrition Genetics Reproduction Vaccinations Deworming Nutrition BCS Mineral Rations Forage systems Genetics Crossbreeding Matching the environment Reproduction Year-round calving to control Long calving season to controlled Short/long term impact of AI

Goals of the program Change producers behaviors Implement sound management practices Control breeding/calving seasons “Learn-by-doing” emphasis Improve productivity and profit potential Measure and quantify the changes

Initial farm visit Meeting the producer and county ag agent Assessing the facilities, cattle, and management practices Collecting ‘base line’ data Use as a starting point Previous calving season lengths, calving dates, weaning weights, BCS, etc.

Farms involved A wide variety of management levels present None Some (Basic) Good Trying to build upon their level of management Point A to Point B

Individual personalized reproduction plan Specific for each producer for that year/breeding season What will be entailed: Vaccination reminder Pregnancy check date Groups of cows to be set up and dates for: TAI CIDR protocols for bull turnout MGA feeding schedule

More than just reproduction Nutrition Mineral program 16/82 had no mineral program 66/82 had poor mineral program BCS (weaning, calving, breeding) Winter feeding (feed analysis, ration balancing) Health Vaccination program 47/82 farms had limited vaccination program Deworming (31/82 did not)

More than just reproduction Genetics Crossbreeding (44/82 did not) Complements feed resources and market Reproduction (70/82 did not) Establish a calving season (or two) Control estrus Require BSE Reduce pregnancy loss and calf death loss

Current Farms 2015 2016 Herds range from 7-178 females 82 producers 1,798 cows total 731 cows AI 2016 Added 28 producers 766 cows worked 139 cows AI

Farm Program Year # of Producers # Cows Range # FTAI 2015 82 1798 7-178 731 2016 28 766 3-250 139 2017 Total 114 5401

Breakdown of Categories Category # of producers # of cows Avg. Est. CS Reduced 365 SF 23 216 102 365 S 6 73 223 365 F 7 193 180 120 SF 10 266 41 120 S 11 289 33 90 SF 4 77 30 90 S 12 482 16 90 F 3 25 Heifer AI 100 32

The Data is the Key!

Data Collection All data is recorded Breeding, Calving, Pregnancy, Weaning Utilize Google Drive’s function and capabilities Google Forms Accessible on smart phones and laptops Data entries automatically saved Only have access to their individual folder and data

Methods Used to Control Reproduction

ES and Natural Service MGA or CIDR Turn in bulls Tues Mon Tues Talk through slide

Pharmaceuticals Used Progestins Biological Action: Imitates the CL, inhibits estrus if the cows have started cycling, induces estrus in anestrous cows Products MGA Feed additive Feed at a rate of .5 mg/hd/day CIDR

Estrus Synchronization and Natural Service – whole farm examples Treatment Numbers Preg Rate 1st 30 d Control 621 83 47 MGA 614 93 78 Control 419 83 45 CIDR 421 91 80 Bull:Cow range from 1:23 to 1:42 (91% PR ) Results Pregnancy rate via palpation. Calving rate was unchanged. 1st 40 days is the proportion of cows that calved in the 1st 40 days of the calving season. Open cows = 1 mature cow in the control group. The rest of the open cows were 2-year olds. Only 2 were pregnant in the control group, 1 was open in the MGA group and all were pregnant in the MGA-Lutalyse group. Note how well managed the herd is. 89% calved in the 1st 40 days in the control group.

Return on Investment 108 cows; 54 MGA-Bull, 54 Corn-bull 15% increase in pregnancy rate 40.4 extra pounds at weaning per calf Estimated return on investment: Cost per cow = $2.96/cow for 7 days of MGA Return per cow 31,110 lbs x $143.88 = $44,761/54 = $828.91 24,510 lbs x $143.88 = $35,265/54 = $653.06 $175.85 return per cow treated In the next several slides, I am attempting to demonstrate the economic return generated by feeding MGA. There was about a 15% increase in pregnancy rate (80% versus 95% if combine both MGA groups). Calves weighed 40 extra pounds on July 11 in the synchronized groups. Some cow-calf pairs were sold before weaning so a pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed calculation is NOT possible. I am using this model to help understand the economic impact since we cannot get the actual weaning data. If had 100 synchronized cows and a 15% higher preg rate then you will have 15 more calves to sell.

Jackson County Farm - Targeted 150 cows that calved from mid-February to mid-May. Inserted CIDR devices in all cows that calved in April and May. Also, inserted CIDRs in all the two year olds (25). Turned the bulls out for 70 days.

Jackson County Farm - Targeted Results Overall pregnancy rate = 94% (141/150). Percent calved in 30 days = 75% (113/150). Two year olds: 17 conceived in first 30 days 22 conceived, 3 open (88% pregnancy rate).

Campbell Co – Really Targeted! Inserted CIDR’s on May 14, 2013* 2013 calving date 2014 calving date Days Earlier 1st calf heifer 4/13 3/5 39 days 1st calf heifer 4/27 3/26 31days Cow 4/2 3/10 22 days Cow 4/29 3/21 39 days Inserted CIDR’s on June 17, 2013* 1st calf heifer 5/26 4/7 49 days Cow 5/19 4/30 20 days Cow 5/26 5/30 - 4 days Cow 5/31 April 8 52 days 7 of the 8 cows calved an average of 36 days earlier in 2014 compared to 2013. Additional 90 pounds of WW per calf for a total of 630 additional pounds X $143.88 (average price of steers and heifers weighing 500/550 pounds) = $906 return on a $80 investment.

Year-round to Controlled On-Farm Data Year-round to Controlled

Results

Year Round  Fall

Year 1 Steps: Pulled the bull late March 2015 Sold 6 “done” cows   2015 Total Cows Exposed to the bull 17 Number of Calves born in: January 1 February March April May June 2 July August September 6 October November December Date of First Calf 1/14/2015 Date of Last Calf 12/22/2015 Calving Season Length 342 Total # of Calves Born 16 # of cows that did not calve # of Calves that died 3 Total # of Calves Weaned 13 Calved again in December and Sold Held for Fall breeding Steps: Pulled the bull late March 2015 Sold 6 “done” cows Bought 2 replacement heifers 12 head FTAI Held for Fall breeding (1 sold) 1 sold, 1 = CIDR Both Sold Both Sold

Year 2 2016 Breeding Season Steps: Added 5 replacement heifers   2015 2016 Total Cows Exposed to the bull 17 13 Number of Calves born in: January 1 February March April May June 2 July August September 6 October 4 November December Date of First Calf 1/14/2015 9/10/2016 Date of Last Calf 12/22/2015 11/9/2016 Calving Season Length 342 60 Total # of Calves Born 16 12 # of cows that did not calve # of Calves that died 3 Total # of Calves Weaned Year 2 2016 Breeding Season Steps: Added 5 replacement heifers 2 late-calving cows = CIDR 16 head FTAI

Year 3 2017 Estimated based on pregnancy diagnosis Sold 1 open cow   2015 2016 2017 (*estimated) Total Cows Exposed to the bull 17 13 18 Number of Calves born in: January 1 February March April May June 2 July August September 6 12* October 4 5* November December Date of First Calf 1/14/2015 9/10/2016 9/8/2017 Date of Last Calf 12/22/2015 11/9/2016 10/14/2017 Calving Season Length 342 60 36 Total # of Calves Born 16 12 # of cows that did not calve 1  # of Calves that died 3 Total # of Calves Weaned Year 3 2017 Estimated based on pregnancy diagnosis Sold 1 open cow

Summary What’s it worth? 88 pound increase in WW/cow exposed   2015 2016 2017 (estimated) Total cows 17 13 18 #calves born 16 12 calving% 94% 92% # weaned %weaned/cow exposed 76% total WW (lbs) 5281 5184 WW/cow exposed (lbs) 310.65 398.77 date first calf 1/14/2015 9/10/2016 9/8/2017 date last calf 12/22/2015 11/9/2016 10/14/2017 CS length 342 60 36 % in desired window 56% 100% AI% 50% 75% What’s it worth? 88 pound increase in WW/cow exposed 311 x $152/cwt = $472.72 399 x $150/cwt = $598.50 $125.78/cow increase

2015 2016 Jan 2 Feb Mar 1 Apr May 3 Jun 4 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec # calves 22 Date First 1/24/2015 Date Last 11/28/2015 CS Length 308 Held for May Breeding Insert CIDR Held for November Breeding Used MGA

2015 2016 Jan 2 Feb Mar 1 3/11/2016 Apr 7/9/2016 May 3 120 Jun 4 Jul Aug Sep 16 9/10/2016 Oct 10/15/2016 Nov 35 Dec # calves 22 23 DateFirst 1/24/2015 DateLast 11/28/2015 CS Length 308

Lot Size Impacts (Halich and Burdine, 2015) Data: Bluegrass Stockyards CPH Sales 2005-2012

On-Farm Data Incorporating AI

TAI Breeding Protocols Cows 7 day CIDR GnRH at insertion, Lutalyse at removal, GnRH at breeding Breed 66 h after removing CIDR Heifers 5 day CIDR NO GnRH at insertion, Lutalyse at removal, GnRH at breeding If GnRH is given at CIDR insertion in heifers then two doses of Lutalyse are needed Breed 66-72 h after removing CIDR

AI Sires Used Angus (Comrade, Bruiser) Charolais (Free Lunch, Target) Hereford (Ft. Knox, Ribeye) Simmental (Uno Mas, Grandmaster) Comrade Ft. Knox Uno Mas Free Lunch

Fleming County Producer - Baseline = Sept-May - FTAI 10 cows – 70% CR - April/May FTAI - Three stragglers FTAI – 63% CIDR 14 days after calving

IRM Farm Program - Revenue Pregnancy rate increased from 83% to 89% Increased WW by 69 pounds 2015 2,280 cows weaned calves that weighed 530 pounds = 1,051,308 pounds 2016 2,316 cows weaned calves that weighed 599 pounds = 1,234,682 pounds

Total Potential Economic Impact 1,234,683 – 1,051,308 = 183,375 pounds = $293,840 ($143.88/cwt) $3,217.56/producer 24% increase in revenue!

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