Rigorous culls make sense
Rigorous culls make sense
By Marianne Curtis
AVOIDING breeding from troublesome cows and culling those which fail to perform make for easy management in one US beef herd.
Speaking at the BCBC conference, Burke Teichert outlined management and breeding policy for his Rex Ranch, located in Nebraska, US.
Average rainfall is 42.5cm/year (17in/year) and temperatures vary from -6.5C to 37.5C. The ranch consists of three separate units, each running more than 2000 cows plus replacement heifers and yearling steers.
"We have 11 full-time employees, myself and the office manager. Each full-time employee is responsible for one herd of calving age cows, plus a herd of yearling heifers or steers, the land they run on and accompanying buildings, corrals and equipment. Cow herds vary in size from 500-900 cows."
Employees only receive help during calving or to maintain fences, he adds. "For each employee, it is like having his own ranch within a bigger ranch. We try to foster employee inclusion in decision making at all levels."
For employees to be able to run such large herds, easy-care cows are essential, according to Mr Teichert. "Our 11 calving age cow herds consist of three herds of two-year-olds, two herds of three-year-olds, four herds of 4-9 year-olds, a grandma herd of nine-year-olds and over and one market herd."
Two of the 4-9 year old herds, known as seedstock herds, are used to breed bulls for the ranch. "We have an ear notching system which helps us know something of a cows history without having to look at written records.
"Each time a cow fails to perform to expectation she gets a notch. Reasons are: assisted birth, poor calf weaning weight, poor yearling weight or that she requires vet attention."
Cows with one notch can never be bull mothers. Those with two notches go into the market herd and are sold the following year. Calves of two notch cows begin their life with one notch, added Mr Teichert.
"For seedstock herds, we select cows with no notches which are approaching four years old. The final selection of bull mothers is made by choosing cows calving in the first 21 days of the calving season and with best calf weaning weights. We always select for reproduction before production."
Breeding is based on composites to maintain heterosis. "Hybrid vigour is of particular advantage in the more lowly heritable traits, such as fertility and survivability. Our composite is about 50% Angus." *
Angus forms the basis of composite breeding at Burke Teicherts ranch in Nebraska, US.
• Select for trouble-free cows.
• Angus-based composites.
• High culling rate.