The health and success of your cow-calf herd start with proper care for your cows and heifers, says Dr. Dan Tracy, beef veterinarian with Zoetis. Ensuring the right nutrition before the breeding season sets up cows and replacement heifers for reproductive success. It’s also important to incorporate good herd health practices to strengthen immunity and reduce risks.

Dr. Sam Ingram, Range & Pasture scientist with Corteva Agriscience, adds that well-conditioned cows breed faster, and tighter calving windows lead to more uniform groups of calves, which can bring higher market prices.

Here are some ways to improve breeding efficiency:

1. Review your prebreeding vaccination program: Vaccinating cows and heifers before breeding can help protect them from diseases that affect reproduction. Work with your veterinarian to find the right products for your herd’s needs.
2. Consider a reproduction synchronization program: Synchronizing heat cycles in your herd can improve fertility and create a more consistent breeding window. Even without artificial insemination, this method can shorten calving periods and improve efficiency.
3. Monitor pastures early: Keep an eye on your pastures even before they start greening up. Early treatment of weeds helps maintain high-quality forage that improves cow condition, boosts milk production, and increases gains.
4. Manage summer pasture well: Use cross-fencing to rotate cattle and allow pastures time to rest. This helps maximize forage production and improves land use.
5. Control parasites: Internal and external parasites can harm your cattle’s health. A parasite management plan helps reduce the parasite burden and maintain a healthy herd. Proper pasture management also helps prevent parasite buildup.

Each herd is unique, so it’s important to customize these practices to your operation. Tracy encourages producers to consult with local experts like veterinarians and pasture specialists for the best results.