Calving Earlier In the Calving Season Using calving distributions as a component of production management Katherine Whitman, DVM, MS

Minimum Database What data points? What info do you need to collect? Pregnancy percentage Calving percentage Weaning percentage Pounds weaned per cow exposed What info do you need to collect? Breeding female inventory Pregnancy diagnosis Calvings Number and pounds weaned

Data Driven Decision Making: Why calving distributions? Critical evaluation-piece of data driven decision making Veterinarian involvement Health management Increase impact Producers understanding impacts: economics and beyond Useful, simple information that is only a very small piece of the management pie. Could offer a gateway for veterinarians to become more involved in management practices. Improve reproductive efficiency utilizing data driven decisions. Create a “team” approach for the producer; increase the relevance of a veterinarian on the operation-not just calls, more consistent interaction (+cash flow for practice)

Calving Distributions 21 day periods during the calving season Start date: 3rd term calf Minimum: #born for each period Better: Cow ID Cow age Calf birth date Adapted from BIF Guidelines, 2002 Important to emphasis that construction of these distributions requires very little input; maximal impact

Recognizing the Impact of Calving Earlier in the Calving Season Evidence based on DATA Not only immediate, but long term impacts on progeny and longevity. Financial implications for ensuring that she stays in the herd, and that her steer progeny produce.

Weaning Weight (lb) Differences Calving Period 1 Calving Period 2 Calving Period 3 Lesmeister et. al, 1973 -46 -71 Funston et. al, 2012 (steer calves) -28.7 -74.7 Cushman et. al, 2013 -45.64 -97.02 NDSU Dickinson Research Center, 2002 -40 -88 *First calf heifer progeny

Calving early as a heifer increases progeny weaning weights * P=<0.0001 In addition to a longer lifespan, those cows calving in the first 21 d as a heifer weaned heavier calves through the sixth calving season. This difference equates to approx. 1-2 extra calves over her lifespan. Thus the effect of calving early is two fold: longer productive lifespan and more beef per calving season. This effect was first documented in the 1970’s by Lesmiester and is still true today. Weaning weights are a function of both management and genetics Parity Cushman et al. (2013) JAS (91): 4486

Calving early as a heifer increases reproductive longevity *P=<0.01, n = 16,594 * * * * * Calving day in the first calving season Three were no differences in birth weight between the three groups. Birth date of heifers in the first 21 days was 2 and 3 days older than heifers calving in the second and third 21 days (P<0.05) Cushman et al. (2013) JAS (91): 4486

Calving period improves daughter reproductive performance… B P≤ 0.03 C A B C C B A A A A C B B A B B A B C SEMs are pooled Adapted from Funston et al. (2012) JAS (90): 5118

…and son performance on the farm, the feedlot and at the packing plant B A C B C P≤ 0.03 A B C A B C C SEMs are pooled in Funston 2012 B A A B A, B Adapted from Funston et al. (2012) JAS (90): 5118

…and son performance on the farm, the feedlot and at the packing plant B P<0.01 C Calving Period 1 Calving Period 2 Calving Period 3 Carcass Value -$25.00 -$74.00 SEMs are pooled in Funston 2012 Adapted from Funston et al. (2012) JAS (90): 5118

Calving early in the calving season improves the viability of the operation Increased pounds at weaning with more desirable carcass characteristics Potentially more income per year and may recover development costs faster Produce more beef during her reproductive life Improve the sustainability of the operation Increase production longevity More likely to recover her development costs and reduces the replacement rate

EFFICIENCY!! Other Benefits? Labor utilization Feed utilization Scheduling-farming Scheduling-veterinarian Herd health Marketing strategies EFFICIENCY!!

Calendar Calving Season Graph to show veterinarians their calving season in Nebraska. Encouragement to help their producers tighten their calving season to 1. Take advantage of non-harvested forages; 2. Potentially improve health of calves; 3. Improve veterinary and producer lifestyle: short, intense calving season, challenging for a bit, but over with quickly

Initial Calving Distribution

Initial Pounds Weaned

Missed Opportunity

Missed Opportunity 11,705.40 lb difference

**Repeatable data becomes important!** Skewed Distribution Not the goal of the operation! Retaining late calving females Bull battery management Nutrition Anovulatory-why? Disease Etc., etc. **Repeatable data becomes important!** Operation goals: logistical problems Price of replacements-keep everything Bulls-left in too long, bull injuries, etc. Cows not cycling: could be reason for dip in 3 year olds, nutritionally related, exacerbates post-calving interval

Tactics Data interpretation to assess herd status Opportunity to assess overall management Define future goals What is the end game? What area to address first? One thing at a time… Tools Implementation of resources First step is convincing the owner that there could be changes made, if a problem exists. Can the logistics be managed (calving pasture, labor, facilities)? What is the producer’s target? Weaning calves, yearlings, retained ownership, replacements. There is a benefit to calving earlier for every production stage. Can we improve our goals, even if we think we are “good?” Important not to try and rebuild Rome in 3 days…in nutrition is an issue, tackle that the first year, and demonstrate the results with additional data collection. Follow the next year with a synchronization program to tighten the calving window. Etc. etc. Resources: if the producer is willing to comply, GPVEC, UNL, USMARC, etc. are resources to guide you. Nutritionists available, refereed articles for evidence-based decision making

Potential Interventions Synchronization Marketing of late-born females Disease investigation and management Breeding season management Nutrition evaluation

Limitations? Facilities Weather concerns? Labor Feed resources Both producer and veterinarian Feed resources Marketing Tradition Pandora’s box

Data Collection Challenges Time from first to final data collection: 83 days July-September Data submission methods Non-computerized: 25/40 (62.5%) Excel: 15/40 (37.5%) Time spent data entry and reporting: 24.6 sec/head Time spent data entry and reporting: 1 hr 29 min/herd Range per herd: 35 min-3 hr 30 min One year of data-enough info to intervene? Mention feedback from data collection process: Complicated forms not used Challenging to collect from producers Timing?

Case background 2 Year Olds 1560 3 Year Olds 1242 Matures 5894 Calving season began March 21 Pregnancy percentage 91%, heifers AI’d Calving percentage 85% How many opens at preg check? At calving? 10230 exposed, 9309 preg, 8696 calved

Estimated Total Pounds Weaned: 5,145,902.20

Total Pounds Weaned: 4,953,415.00

Total Pounds Weaned: 5,317,972.60

Questions?