Beef Cattle Research Update

Effects of Body Condition Recent University of Arkansas research determined the interactive effects of forage environment and body condition on the calving rate of beef cows. multiparous beef cows (1/4 to 3/8 Brahman) were managed to achieve marginal (4.7) or good (6.6) body condition scores (BCS) over approximately 5 months before the initiation of the breeding season. growth, endophyte acres (marginal BCS) or 1 cow/2 acres (good BCS). cows within each BCS group were randomly assi (CB) or EI and BCS were recorded on days 0, 30, and 60 of the breeding season. In addition, cow intramuscular fat percentage (IMF) and rump fat the start and end of the breeding season. The effects 1. These researchers reported that during the breeding season that cows with marginal BCS grazing grazing EI overall BW gain (77 and 53 lb, respectively, for Cows with good season. Change in BCS was affected by a fora grazing CB season (for good BCS cows than marginal (~3.74 vs. 3.09% for good vs. marginal; P <0.0001). < 0.0001) in cows with good to increase (P = 0.07) during the breeding season in marginal BCS cows compared with good BCS cows These researchers also reported that calving rates were similar (P > 0.10) among good (82%) and marginal However, marginal interesting to note that in this study that marginal BCS cows grazing CB had a calving rate similar to that of cows with good BCS. Possibly, this occurred because these cows actually gained condition during the breeding season (final BCS of with marginal BCS grazing EI lost condition during the breeding season (final BCS of 4.6, lost 0.1 units). In contrast, a number of published research studies have shown that cows in poor body condition at calving or bree generally have reduced reproductive performance even if they are managed to gain weight. from calving through breeding in order to optimize reproductive performance. summary, the combination of marginal body condition and poor forage resulted in decreased Oklahoma Panhandle Research & Extension Center