– Pedro L. P. Fontes, UGA Extension Beef Reproductive Physiologist; Nathan P. Eason, White County Extension Coordinator; Andy E. Carter, Lowndes County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent; Jason D. Duggin, UGA Extension Beef Specialist
Beef producers that do not utilize artificial insemination can improve their calf crop by synchronizing estrus for natural service
Estrus synchronization programs allow cattle producers to manipulate the estrous cycle of cows and heifers, facilitating the adoption of biotechnologies such as artificial insemination. Although artificial insemination is a powerful tool to incorporate superior genetics, estrus synchronization also can be utilized to increase productivity of cow-calf operations that rely solely on natural service. This bulletin provides an objective evaluation of common estrus synchronization protocols for their usefulness with natural service rather than artificial insemination.
Economic impact of early calving: Cattle producers commonly evaluate reproductive performance by determining how many cows became pregnant during the breeding season. Although pregnancy rates are important, when females become pregnant within the breeding season is a major component of cow-calf profitability. Cows that become pregnant early in the breeding season calve earlier in the calving season. Consequently, they have . . .
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