Management
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With feeder cattle prices at historically high levels, many Georgia producers are asking the same question this summer: should calves be sold at weaning, or retained for another 30 to 90 days? There is no universal answer. The right decision depends on forage availability, expected cattle performance, production costs, labor, market outlook, and the production…
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Pregnancy diagnosis is a routine component of reproductive management in many beef operations, but its value extends beyond simply determining whether a cow is pregnant. When used strategically, it allows producers to make timely decisions that directly influence herd productivity and cost of production. For spring-calving herds in Georgia, pregnancy diagnosis is just around the…
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Embryo transfer (ET) is an increasingly important tool for improving production efficiency and accelerating genetic progress in beef cattle. As with any technology, the success of ET is influenced by several factors. One may argue that pregnancy outcomes following ET should be greater than those obtained with insemination, considering that ET bypasses several critical steps…
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Dr. Pedro Fontes The breeding season is around the corner for many spring-calving herds in the Southeast.This is a good time to pause and ask a straightforward question: are we setting ourselvesup to maximize pregnancy rates and minimize the risk of open cows? Click below to learn more.
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Pedro Fontes, Ph.D. – Fat supplementation has traditionally been used to increase energy density in cattle diets. However, research indicates that certain fat sources can influence reproduction through specific biological pathways, independent of their caloric value. Click below to learn more.
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Jason Duggin One of the major challenges for producers finishing cattle is determining the ideal time for harvest. This article discusses the consequences of harvesting fed cattle before they are properly finished and outlines practical strategies producers can use to identify the optimal harvest window.
Posted in: Management -
Pedro Fontes Return of investment associated with the use of artificial insemination in commercial herds is largely driven by cattle prices. This article will discuss how historically high feeder calf and bull prices influence the return of investment of artificial insemination in commercial herds.
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Drs. Lawton Stewart and Uttam Saha With forage quality ranging widely across Georgia, now is the time to double-check whether your cows are actually getting what they need before calving. Click below to learn how small nutritional gaps can lead to big losses in performance and profitability.
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Dr. Jennifer Tucker There are many factors that influence successful livestock-forage production systems and there are constant changes that we can make in our operations to help with forage improvement. This article goes over four key steps that will keep us on the right path toward improved forage systems.
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Lucas Melo-Goncalves and Pedro Fontes – This article will provide an overview of a recent research study that evaluated how late embryonic mortality impacts cow productivity commercial cow-calf operations.