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Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) |
| The Beef Reproduction Task Force is a multi-state extension activity in cooperation with the North Central Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leaders Committee and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. Objectives of Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle are to improve the understanding of the physiological processes of the estrous cycle, the procedures available to synchronize estrus and ovulation and the proper application of these systems and to improve the understanding of methods to assess male fertility and how it affects the success of AI programs.
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Beef Cattle Decision Support |
| This website, from the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, shows the effects of mating various bulls to your herd. |
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Beef Sire Selection Manual |
| Sponsored by the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium, the Beef Sire Selection Manual incorporates information on both tried and tested programs as well as on new genetic technology. It is meant to be a reference to help producers understand the important genetic concepts that are the tools for profitable cattle breeding. |
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Breeding Soundness Evaluation |
| The purpose of this program, from Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, is to revisit the Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BBSE) as developed by the American Society for Theriogenology (SFT). The current version of the BBSE utilizes mimimum acceptable standards (or thresholds) for scrotal circumference, sperm motility and sperm morphology, which a bull must equal or exceed to be classified as a satisfactory potential breeder. |
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Determining Reproductive Fertility in Herd Bulls |
| The herd bull influences overall herd fertility more than any other single animal. Several factors influence a bull's fertility. This guide from University of Missouri Extension examines those factors. Also available as a PDF. |
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Gestation Calculator |
| The calculator on this page will calculate the date when a calf is due is from a given date of service based upon 283 days of pregnancy. Or it will calculate the date of service if you enter the date you want the calf to be due. You need to enter the month and day and indicate whether it is the service date or the due date. |
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Gestation Table |
| A table that gives you the date when a calf is due from a given date of service based upon 283 days of pregnancy. Select the month of service from the months listed at the top of the page. |
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Management Software Tools |
| These software tools, from The Beef Cattle Institute, are in a variety of formats and include calculators for cow/calf producers, feed lots, marketing, and nutrition. |
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Synchronizing Estrus In Beef Cattle |
| Synchronization of estrus (heat) involves manipulating the estrous cycle of beef females so they can be bred at approximately the same time. There are several protocols available for synchronizing estrus among beef females. Traditional protocols are designed to mimic or control the corpus luteum on the ovary. New protocols have been designed to control ovulation and/or the follicular waves that occur on the ovary during the 21-day estrous cycle. |
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Tibial Hemimelia in Shorthorns |
| Click on "TH in Shorthorns" from this page to download an article authorized by the ASA Board of Directors on gives a brief history of the appearance of this genetic defect, describes the symptoms, inheritance, strategies to reduce probability of producing a TH calf, etc. |
Associations and Organizations
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Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) |
| The federation represents over 40 state and national beef cattle associations. It was formed as a means to standardize programs and methodology and to create greater awareness, acceptance and useage of beef cattle performance concepts. Selection based on objective measures has withstood the test of time and continues to undergo scrutiny by researchers, organizations and the ultimate judge, beef cattle producers.
The site includes links to breed associations, pages with information regarding the upcoming convention and access to the proceedings of the organization's meetings from 1969 to date. The older proceedings are downloaded as a single file while the most current proceedings are available as separate downloads for individual papers. |
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Cattle Types and Breeds Characteristics and Uses |
| The subject of breeds intrigues most cattle producers. But for beef cattle production, breeds are only part of a genetic strategy. This publication discusses genetic classifications, functional traits or characteristics, breeds and functional types, matching functional levels to production criteria and so on. A fundamental challenge in commercial beef production is to match genetic capability with climatic, nutritional, management, and market conditions. Knowing functional levels of types and breeds can help producers create optimum animal performance to achieve highest profit. 99.13 KB |
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Commercial Bull Selection Made EZ |
| Based on the answers given to specific questions, this publication guides the breeder in making decisions that affect the quality and marketability of his herd. 389.76 KB |
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Crossbreeding Systems for Beef Cattle |
| Crossbreeding is one of the most effective low-input, high-output management practices that a beef cattle producer can adopt. There is little justification for straightbred commercial cattle. Effective crossbreeding is more than simply purchasing a bull of a different breed than the last one that was used, however. Crossbreeding systems with varying degrees of complexity offer benefits in proportion to the increased management that they require. This publication discusses the benefits of crossbreeding, reasons for crossbreeding, and systems for crossbreeding. 40.19 KB |
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Detection of Standing Estrus in Cattle |
| Detecting standing estrus (“heat detection” or “detecting
standing heat”) is simply looking for the changes in animal
behavior that are associated with a cow/heifer
standing to be mounted by a bull or another female. This publication provides information on detecting standing estrus in cows and as well as information on commercially available aids. While several aids are available to help in detecting standing estrus, nothing substitutes for visual observation. The more frequent the observation, the greater the likelihood of detecting animals in standing estrus. 337.40 KB |
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DNA Markers: Explanation of Validation and Utilization |
| The purpose of this article is to clarify the meaning of some new terms that are being used in conjunction with DNA testing, discuss the concept of marker validation, and outline the different applications for products that are currently being offered by commercial genotyping companies. 53.17 KB |
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Estrus Synchronization - Planning for Success |
| A slide presentation reviewing what factors affect the success of estrus synchronization and how to both evaluate and plan for the factors and the protocols that will ensure the best choice has been made for your specific situation. 4.39 MB |
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Evaluating the Breeding Soundness of Beef Bulls |
| Evaluating breeding soundness of bulls is an often neglected management practice. This guide, from New Mexico State University, discusses how and when to evaluate breeding soundness. 31.4 KB |
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GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE ADAPTATION IN AMERICA |
| Presents the conclusions of research sponsored by USDA Agricultural Research Service and the Beef Improvement Federation and under the auspices of the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium. Initially presented to the beef cattle industry in a symposium in October, 2004, this paper discussed the results of concerned geneticists and cattle producers to define adaptation in beef cattle, characterize important stressors in major production environments, and identify opportunities to improve adaptation through genetic means. 65.43 KB |
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Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Programs |
| Published primarily to assist in the development and operation of performance programs. The objectives of this publication are to outline standard procedures for measuring, recording and using beef cattle performance data and to facilitate greater uniformity in terminology and methodology in the beef industry. It contains recommended procedures and standard procedures based on research and industry experience.
This publication is a valuable tool for use in designing and conducting beef cattle performance programs. Procedures outlined in this publication are used widely in the beef industry. 813.4 KB |
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Impacts of Crossbreeding on Profitability in Vertically Coordinated Beef Industry Marketing Systems, Preliminary Report - Year 1 |
| Vertically coordinated beef marketing systems (alliances and partnerships) have become breed specific, generally Angus, in an effort to improve quality grade and tenderness and to focus on the consumer. However, by so doing, the value of crossbreeding (heterosis) has been diminished, particularly at the cow-calf level. The primary objective of this project is to measure the effect of controlled crossbreeding in range environments on predominantly Angus-based females. By determining the value of heterosis to beef cattle alliances, cattle breeding systems in the U.S. have the potential to be significantly modified to utilize systematic, controlled crossbreeding programs. Preliminary data suggest a significant economic advantage in the feedlot phase for the crossbred (Hereford-sired) calves.
Primary differences were gain, feed efficiency, morbidity and mortality, resulting in a dramatically lower cost of gain ($11.94 per hundredweight [cwt.], $7.32 per cwt. difference when mortality of the Angus-sired steers was excluded). The Angussired group had a significant advantage in quality grade, partially offsetting the value in the feedlot. However, the net advantage favored the Hereford-sired cattle by nearly $78 per head for the entire production cycle. All results are based on limited numbers from year one. Results may vary as more data is collected. It's important that no significant conclusion be drawn until the study is completed. 350.88 KB |
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Inheritance of Color and the Polled Trait |
| This article, published in "Beef Briefs", provides an overview of how genes control specific growth rate, structural size, color, etc. for an individual. The article goes on to outline and explain how to estimate breeding values for color and the polled trait in cattle. 440 kb |
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Protocols for Synchronization of Estrus and Ovulation |
| Technology now exists to successfully inseminate beef cows at predetermined fixed times with pregnancy rates comparable to those achieved with heat detection. The short list of protocols in this paper was developed based on available research data and field use by the Beef Cattle Reproduction Leadership Team. 36.30 KB |
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Synchronizing Estrus In Beef Cattle |
| Synchronization of estrus (heat) involves manipulating the estrous cycle of beef females so they can be bred at approximately the same time. This training module briefly describes both traditional and new protocols designed to control ovulation. |
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Tips for a Successful Synchronization Program |
| A set of guidelines to help you determine the answers to the following issues. Is your herd is a good candidate for synchronization of estrus? And, can you identify potential problems if artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy rates are lower than expected in an existing program? 716.57 KB |
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Understanding Estrus Synchronization of Cattle |
| Reproductive failure is a major source of economic loss in the beef industry. The majority of this loss occurs because cows do not become pregnant during a defined breeding season. Using estrus synchronization can give cows an additional change to become pregnant during a defined breeding season. Synchronizing estrus is simply manipulating the bovine estrous cycle to cause the majority of cows to show standing estrus around the same time. 906.03 KB |
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Use of Natural Service Sires with Synchronized Estrus |
| This brief paper presents the advantages and disadvantages of the synchronization of estrus for an AI program when the AI program is not feasible but the advantages are still desirable. It includes guidelines for using bulls with synchronization. 10.61 KB |
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User’s Guide for Beef Cattle Expected Progeny Differences |
| Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are the most current and accurate means to select cattle for the traits for which they are calculated. EPDs are estimates of how a bull or cow’s future progeny will perform, on average, for a given trait. This paper discusses how EPD's are calculated, the traits that are calculated, accuracy values and their meaning and so on. It also explains an adjustment procedure to convert EPDs from one breed(s) to a comparable scale for another breed and includes a sample chart. |
Video and Audio
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