How can you increase reproductive efficiency this breeding season? How can you use technology for increased reproductive performance? Here are three ways to improve your herd’s reproductive efficiency:

1. Detect heats

“Many technologies on the market today are simple to use and effective,” says Ky Pohler, assistant professor of beef cattle production at Texas A&M University, USA. “One example is an ESTROTECT Breeding Indicator, a self-adhesive patch used primarily for heat detection.”

ESTROTECT^™ Breeding Indicators are applied halfway between the hip and tailhead of a cow’s back. As estrus activity and mounting occur, the indicator’s surface ink is rubbed off by the friction of the mounting to reveal an indicator color. Once a certain amount of color is exposed, the animal is considered in standing heat and ready to breed.

“ESTROTECT Breeding Indicators feature easy-to-read bullseyes,” says Pohler. “Once the Breeding Bullseye, or the equivalent surface area, is rubbed off the animal – that animal is ready to breed and is up to three times more likely to result in a confirmed pregnancy.”[1]

2. Determine estrus intensity

ESTROTECT^™’s Breeding Bullseye^™ A technology was born from university research. After testing the Breeding Bullseye on thousands of cows and heifers, researchers developed a patch scoring system to breed cattle based on estrus intensity.

Patch scoring is determined by the amount of surface patch ink rubbed off. If more than 50% of the surface ink rubs off it means higher estrus intensity and better chances for a successful pregnancy. Research shows cows with 50% or more surface ink rubbed off, the equivalent of the Breeding Bullseye or greater, should be bred because they’ve reached peak estrus. 

“In multiple studies from the U.S. and Brazil, pregnancy establishment increased, and pregnancy loss decreased when the Breeding Bullseye was rubbed away,” says Pohler.   

When the Breeding Bullseye^™ or more was missing, it resulted in 66% pregnancy rates 30 days after artificial insemination (AI). At less than half of the surface patch ink left, pregnancy rates were only 35% in Brazil and 50% in the U.S. Additionally, cattle bred in these studies with the Breeding Bullseye or more worth of surface ink remaining had nearly 12% pregnancy loss. Females bred showing high estrus intensity with more than half of the surface ink rubbed off experienced pregnancy loss around 3%.[2]   

ESTROTECT^™ Breeding Indicators can help make informed, cow-side breeding decisions based on estrus intensity.

“With that estrus intensity information, you or your AI technician can make smart cow-side decisions, like choosing an inexpensive straw of semen,” says Pohler. “If an indicator is fully activated, that cow has a higher chance for a successful pregnancy, and you might use more expensive semen or sexed semen. You might even put in an embryo.”

3. Get management basics right

For reproductive efficiency, you’ve got to have your basics covered. Using technology is not a replacement for other overlooked management areas. Including technology without addressing management will still cause inefficiency.

“If you’re going to use a reproductive technology, but your cows are in poor body condition, you can’t overcome that,” says Pohler. “If nutrition is bad, no technology will give you the results you desire.”

Animal health is another management aspect that needs focus.

“It sounds simple, but vaccination plans, disease management protocols and biosecurity need to be adopted and practiced,” says Pohler. “If you don’t have these in place, you might end up with only a 50% calf crop due to mid- to late-term abortions or other disease-related issues, a huge loss that could have been avoided.”

The bigger reproductive efficiency picture

If you want to improve reproductive efficiency, you’ve got to think about it more than one or two times per year during breeding and calving seasons.

“Reproductive efficiency improves when you have a bigger-picture focus, preparing animals year-round for breeding, calving, breeding back and repeating the cycle,” says Pohler. “Ultimately, you have to find technologies and management practices that work for you.”

[1] Pohler, K & Speckhart, Savannah & Araujo Franco, Gessica & Maia, T & Guirado Dantas, Felipe & Thompson, K & Rhinehart, J. (2018). PSVIII-23 Late-Breaking: Effect of reproductive tract size and position scores and estrus on reproductive performance in beef cows. Journal of Animal Science. 96. 358-358. 10.1093/jas/sky404.787.

[2] Pohler et al., 2016; Speckhart et al., 2018; Oliveria et al., 2018; Periera et al., upub