For cow-calf producers, a healthy calf per cow each year and a productive, long-living herd are crucial for profitability. A cow must stay in the herd for at least six years to cover investment and maintenance costs.
Selecting the Right Replacement Heifers
Choosing the right replacement heifers ensures cows produce a calf every year. With high cattle prices, early identification of infertile or problematic heifers—before breeding—can provide financial benefits. Instead of culling later, these heifers can be sold as yearlings.
Setting Heifers Up for Success
Heifers should reach puberty by 15 months to calve at 24 months, but about 35% don’t reach puberty by then. Pre-breeding exams, including reproductive tract scoring and pelvic measurements, help identify those with delayed maturity.
Understanding Reproductive Tract Scoring
Reproductive tract scores (1-5) indicate puberty status:
- Score 1: Infantile or underdeveloped
- Score 2: Not close to cycling, but more developed than Score 1
- Score 3: Near puberty but not cycling
- Score 4: Actively cycling in early estrous
- Score 5: Fully cycling with ovulation
Heifers with scores of 4 or 5 are more likely to conceive early, calve earlier, and improve long-term productivity.
Pelvic Measurements and Calving Success
Pelvic area measurements help assess calving risk. Heifers with a pelvic area under 150 cm should be culled, as smaller pelvic areas increase the risk of difficult births and associated losses.
Additional Benefits of Pre-Breeding Exams
Pre-breeding exams also assess structural soundness, temperament, and provide an opportunity to vaccinate against common diseases such as BVD, IBR, BRSV, PI3, and leptospirosis.
Conclusion
Pre-breeding exams help producers select the best heifers for breeding, redirecting less viable ones to the feeder market for better herd efficiency, profitability, and productivity.
