Working Ranch Magazine March/April 2025

BY GILDA V. BRYANT

Plan to Conceive mproving breed-up cannot hap

moderate BCS of 5, she can maintain her condition, conceive again, and feed the calf at her side. Waechter Mead recommends that growing heifers, including second-calf heifers, have a BCS of six because they need enough energy for themselves and the developing fetus. Operators ask a lot of first-calf heif ers as well as second-calf cows. They should breed heifers that are 50%- to- 60% of their mature body weight. Still growing, they have energy require ments for their growth, plus the Cows and heifers should receive high-quality mineral supplements year-round. A complete mineral should contain the major macromin erals, calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium, as well as trace minerals, zinc, copper, selenium, and manga nese. With yearly mineral supple mentation, producers will not have to make changes at breeding. Nutrition plays a critical role in the health of the dam and her calf. developing calf. YEAR-ROUND

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a spring calving herd. The cow has the fewest nutritional requirements because her calf is weaned. A rancher may realize a female needs more con dition before she calves again the following spring. He can separate the herd into different groups. One set can maintain their BCS; the second group may need a different diet or hay supplementation.” Waechter-Mead says producers should understand what really thin, moderate, and too fat looks like. “We want our cows to be a moderate BCS of five at breeding. They’re maintaining that plane of nutrition and won’t have a problem if they gain. If they’re too fleshy, they may not ovulate or con ceive as easily as a moderate BCS cow.” Remember that breeding time is when cows are at peak lactation, requiring more energy and protein to breed successfully. Producers typi cally breed cows 80 days after calving to produce a calf yearly. If a cow has a

pen overnight. However, beef producers can develop plans to enhance Body Condition Scores (BCS), providing quality feed stuffs, mineral and vitamin supple mentation, and giving heifers a little TLC. Don’t forget the bulls; they also require attention. Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM and Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says producers should understand the BCS system. Scores range from one to nine and describe thin, moderate, and fat animals. Ranchers usually look at cattle in the pasture to determine a BCS. Waechter-Mead recommends a rancher run his hands over the ani mal, feeling where the fat is when cat tle are in the chute. “Your hands will teach your eyes, and you can visualize the BCS,” Waechter-Mead explains. “The best time is preg checking in the fall for

32 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.