Controlled Breeding

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Controlled Breeding
Chandler Akins 2007-2008 GJCA Officer Convention
Coordinator
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What is controlled breeding?

• A set plan to shorten the calving season.
• Factors that affect the length of a controlled
  breeding season
• Marketing objectives
• Size of operation
• Personal preference
• A typical breeding season is 60-90 days.
• 70 of cattle producers in the Southeast do not
  use controlled breeding.

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Controlled Breeding

• Advantages
• How to Implement a Program
• Results

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Advantages ofControlled Breeding

• Labor
• Nutrition
• Health
• Marketing

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Labor

• Your labor is decreased by controlled breeding.
• When calving you will be able to watch cattle for
  a shorter period of time.
• You reduce labor by weaning only once a year.

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Nutrition

• Controlled breeding allows you to meet the
  nutritional needs of each cow more efficiently.
• All calves are weaned on one date which allows
  you to start all of them on the same feed, the
  same day.

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Health

• Controlled breeding programs use only one trip to
  the chute which allows you to vaccinate, castrate
  and dehorn all at once.

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Marketing

• You have more calves the same weight, size and
  age.
• This increases your marketing options at the time
  you select to sell your calves.

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How do I start?First Year

• First things first! Build a good, strong bull
  pen.
• Remove bull from herd.
• Pregnancy check all cows.
• Cull all open breeding age females and females
  with calves 5 months of age or older.
• Place bull with cows for 6 months.

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Second Third Year

• Second Year Follow all previous steps except
  leave bull with cows for four and a half months.
• Third Year Leave bull with cows 80-90 days.

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Cows

• In order for cows to rebreed quickly they must be
  in optimum body condition score.
• The optimum BCS for cows entering the breeding
  season is a BCS of five to six.
• Although attaining this score may require
  nutritional supplementation it will allow cows to
  have a higher conception rate.
• In the range of 85-90 conception.

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Bulls

• In a controlled breeding program the cow to bull
  ratio will be lower than that of a year-round
  breeding program.
• Typically a mature bull can service 25-35 head.
• Prior to the breeding season a breeding soundness
  exam should be done.
• Also the bull should be in good condition.

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The Results

• More calves within a shorter period of time that
  are uniform in size, weight and age.
• Improves marketability of calves.
• Lower labor cost as a result of only weaning and
  vaccinating once a year.

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Bottom Line

• Controlled breeding programs allow you to sell
  more calves in a shorter period of time.
• Therefore equaling more money !!

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• Questions?