SW So Dakota | oldskool - 11/22/2024 10:28
What did your 60 day breeding period look like the last few years? Weather, flies, etc? I know 2023 flies were horrible during the breeding season and it showed big time. 2024 was exceptionally hot during July into August. Guys around here that turned bulls out early didn’t have any pg wrecks, bulls that got turned out during the July heat had a few wrecks or less in first cycle.
I know this sounds foolish, but maybe try 3 head of old cows in with that young group. They know the ropes and will go to water/feed, whereas the younger ones are just roaming around at random making laps around the pasture the first few weeks.
A lot of my neighbors had a really poor breed up in 2023 because of all the rain, humidity, heat and flies. I was expecting the same but for whatever reason we were at like 5% open, better than average which is about 7%. This last year turned out super dry in late summer and since we don’t turn bulls out till early August that might explain part of my poorer pregnancy rates this year.
We run our first calf heifers by themselves but when they turn 3 they get put into the mature herd. I don’t know if that has anything to do with them having trouble getting bred the third time? The thing is those threes are in really good shape when they go to grass and have their second calf. It’s just frustrating to see them drop out after you have that much invested in them.
Edited by Big Swede 11/22/2024 19:59
|
Third time losers
