1. Cow Fertility How can we affect it?

2. Objectives Identify three management areas Make a vaccination calendar Have a basic understanding of the body condition scoring system Identify three main times to body condition score cows

3. What is “fertility”? The capacity to initiate, sustain, and support reproduction.

4. Three Management Areas Herd health Age at puberty Nutrition

5. Herd Health External parasites –Lice –Grubs –Horn flies –Face flies

6. Vaccination Calendar Replacement heifers –Brucellosis- about 9 mo. Of age –Leptospirosis –IBR (Red Nose)-consult veterinarian –Clostridials-baby calves, booster at weaning –BVD- consult veterinarian –Consult with your veterinarian for other recommendations

7. Vaccination Calendar-Cont. Prebreeding –Vibriosis Annual booster vaccinations- preg check –Vibriosis –Trichomaniasis –Leptospirosis –Respiratory as recommended

8. Age at Puberty Should reach puberty at 11-12 mo. of age Need to cycle at least 2 times before breeding Should be bred at 15 mo. of age Target weight of 65% of mature weight

9. Nutrition Reproduction is a luxury event. Use body condition score to assess level of nutrition Three major times to assess BCS –Weaning –1 month post weaning –80-100d precalving

10. Nutrition-Cont. Cows should be ~BCS 5 at calving Heifers should be ~ BCS 6 at calving BCS at calving affects colostrum levels BCS at calving affects rebreeding Cows must rebreed within 82 days to have a calf every year.

11. Factors Affecting Nutrition Body condition score Age of the animal Stage of gestation Lactation Season

12. Other Factors Affecting Fertility Age of cow Calving difficulty

13. What Does This Mean To Us? Cow fertility can be controlled with simple management procedures Herd profitability can be increased by better cow fertility Use veterinarian and extension educator to plan your management scheme