Cow/Calf Exam

As an extension educator, you've been asked to help a cow/calf producer properly calculate the number of exposed females.  On Jan. 1, he had 200 cows.  In February,  prior to start of the breeding season, he culled 40 older, poorer performing cows.  They were replaced with 50 yearling heifers.  The yearling heifers were artificially inseminated on April 1, and the bulls were turned in with the cows on May 1.  After the breeding season, he preg-checked all cows and heifers.  Twenty open (non-pregnant) females were sold, but he also elected to sell 60 late-bred females, receiving a bred-cow premium, in an effort to downsize his herd and concentrate his calving labor.  Prior to the calving season, an early blizzard blew through, and he unfortunately lost 4 cows to the elements, and 6 others aborted.  Calculate the number of exposed females (cows & heifers) for this operation.

150 exposed females

An operation properly calculated that 100 cows were exposed to the bull, and 95 were diagnosed pregnant.  A total of 92 cows delivered full-term calves (89 live, 3 dead).  An additional 3 calves were lost due to scours and illness, and 86 calves were weaned.  Calculate the CALVING percentage of this operation (rounded to the nearest whole number).

92%

Which of the following basic measures of cow/calf performance provides the best indicator of overall cow herd performance including both growth and reproductive performance?

lbs weaned per exposed female

Low fertility or inadequate bull power during the breeding season will be most evident by ...

a reduced calving percentage

Excluding salvage cow value, calculate the break-even cost of production for an operation that has an annual cow cost of $800, produces a 90% calf crop, and has an average weaning weight of 600 lbs.  The market price for 600-lb feeders is $230/cwt ($2.30/lb).  Answers are rounded to the nearest dollar.

$148/cwt

True or false: Assuming that everything can be maintained constant, except a single variable (% calf crop), there is a greater reduction in the unit cost of production as % calf crop increases from 75 to 85% than from 85 to 95%.

True

True or false: A review of low-, medium-, and high-profit profit Kansas producers, by Pendel and Herbel (2018) indicate that high-profit producers typically receive a higher sale price for weaned calves than low-profit producers.

False

Excluding salvage cow value, calculate the break-even cost of production for an operation that has an annual cow cost of $700, produces a 80% calf crop, and has an average weaning weight of 500 lbs.  The market price for 500-lb feeders is $150/cwt ($1.50/lb).  All break-even costs are rounded to the nearest dollar per cwt.

$175/cwt

True or false: According to Standardized Performance Analysis data provided by Dunn et al., (2000), high-profit producers have a greater investment per cow than low- and medium-profit producers.

False

True or false: After the breeding season, if one elects to place all open (non-pregnant) heifers in the feedlot, those heifers may be subtracted from the total number of exposed females for the calculation of basic reproductive measures.

False

True or false: A review of low-, medium-, and high-profit profit Kansas producers, by Pendel and Herbel (2018) indicate that high-profit producers typically have greater breeding costs to develop enhanced genetics than low-profit producers.

False

According to data published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center, which of the following most closely represents average annual cow costs in the U.S.?

$850 per cow per year

Accounting for differences in reproductive performance and calf growth, due to body condition.  What's the economic value difference between BCS 4 cows (70% calf crop, 480 lb average WW) and BCS 5 cows (90% calf crop, 540 lb average WW)?  You may assume that all calves sell for $1.20/lb.

$180

Which of the following would NOT be responsible for a low calving percentage in the cow herd?

Inadequate calf nutrition and scours

On Jan. 1, Herbie had 100 cows.  In February, he elected to cull 20 older, poorer performing cows.  They were replaced with 25 yearling heifers.  The yearling heifers were artificially inseminated on April 1, and the bulls were tuned in with the cows on May 1.  After the breeding season, Herbie preg-checked all cows and heifers.  Ten open (non-pregnant) females were sold, but he also elected to sell 30 late-bred females, receiving a bred-cow premium, in an effort to downsize his herd and concentrate his calving labor.  Prior to the calving season, an early blizzard blew through, and he unfortunately lost 2 cows to the elements, and 3 others aborted.  Calculate the number of exposed females (cows & heifers) for this operation.

75 exposed females

Which of the following could be a potential cause of a low calving percentage in the cow herd:

Presence of a reproductive disease that causes embryonic death and early term abortions

Inadequate bull power relative to the number of cows in the herd

Poor body condition of cows during the preceeding breeding season

All of the above

What input factor is responsible for the greatest percentage of annual cow costs, for most operations?

Feed expenses

True or false: Assuming that everything can be maintained constant, except a single variable (weaning weights), there is a greater reduction in the unit cost of production as weaning weight increases from 500 to 600 lbs, than from 600 to 700 lbs.

True

True or false: In most cases, maximal productivity is associated with maximal profit.

False

A producer had a total of 1100 exposed females, 1050 were determined to be pregnant.  During the calving season, 1000 full-term calves were born (970 live, 30 dead).  From birth to weaning, only 10 calves died.  Calculate the calf death loss percentage of this operation (rounded to the nearest whole number).

4%

What basic question may be used to determine if an adjustment must be made to your exposed cow number when buying and selling breeding females, after initiation of the breeding season?

 

Was the decision to buy/sell the cow based on sound economic and managerial principles?

 

Was the cow exposed (naturally or artificially) to the bull on your ranch?

 

Did the cow give birth to a live calf?

 

Was a monetary premium paid or received, for that cow having been exposed to the bull?

Was a monetary premium paid or received, for that cow having been exposed to the bull?

After all adjustments were incorporated, Herbie calculated that he had 120 exposed females. During the calving season, 115 full-term calves were born (112 live, 3 dead), but only 108 calves were weaned. Calculate the percent CALF CROP of this herd (rounded to the nearest whole number).

90%

A venereal disease that causes late-term abortions will most likely be reflected by which performance measurement?

A low calving percentage

True or false: When calculating the number of exposed females for determination of pregnancy, calving, and weaning percentages; one must include both cows and heifers that were bred via artificial insemination and natural service.

True

Let's assume properly calculated number of exposed females for an operation was 240.  During the calving season, 230 full-term calves were born (224 live, 6 dead), but only 116 calves were weaned. Calculate the CALVING percentage of this herd (rounded to the nearest whole number).

96%

Calculate the calf death loss percentage for this operation.  They had 100 exposed cows.  Prior to calving 2 cows aborted.  During the calving season, 90 calves were born, but 4 of those calves were stillborn.  Later, 5 calves died due to pneumonia and 3 others because of scours.  Eighty calves were weaned.

13.3%

True or false: Assuming that everything can be maintained constant, except a single variable; a reduction in feed or input costs is the only factor not associated with diminishing returns.

True

Which of the following basic measures of cow/calf performance combine into one figure the herd reproductive rate, calf death loss, and genetics for growth and maternal traits.  Changes in this value over the course of several years can be used to manage trade-offs between growth and reproductive performance of the herd.

Pounds weaned per exposed female

True or false: A review of low-, medium-, and high-profit profit Kansas producers, by Pendel and Herbel (2018) indicate that high-profit producers typically sell more lbs of calf per female exposed than low-profit producers.

True

True or false: A review of low-, medium-, and high-profit profit Kansas producers, by Pendel and Herbel (2018) indicate that high-profit producers have a lower total feed cost ($/cow) despite spending more on pasture ($/cow) than lower profit producers.

True

True or false: When calculating reproductive performance, via Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA), only those cows exposed on your ranch must be included in the calculation.

False

True or false: After the breeding season, if one elects to sell a group of bred heifers, those heifers may be subtracted from the total number of exposed females for the calculation of basic reproductive measures.

True

True or false: The forage supply of nutrients in a pasture is solely dependent upon the quality of forage in that pasture.

False

When is the best time to get a cow to gain weight to improve their BCS?

After weaning

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the forage supply of nutrients?

 

The forsage supply of nutrients will differ between forage species and location of growth.

 

The forage supply of nutrients is dictated by the breeding season.

 

Within a given location, the forage supply of nutrients is predictable.

 

Changes in the supply of nutrients from a fresh forage (pasture) follows nature.

The forage supply of nutrients is dictated by the breeding season.

What is the recommended body condition score for heifers at first calving?

6

What is considered the optimal body condition score for a mature cow?

5

What affect does maturity have on forages?

As forages mature, crude fiber and lignin conent increase, thereby reducing digestibility.

True or false: Although cows of lower body condition produce less milk than cows of higher body condition, the concentration of antibodies in the milk is actually higher as a result.

False

For cows of similar body type and frame size, how would you expect the weight of a BCS 3 cow to compare to a BCS 5 cow?

The BCS 3 cow will be 150 lbs lighter than a BCS 5 cow.

What is the primary reason that it is recommended that producers avoid generating BCS 7 cows?

They would be wasting feed & dollars

A herd of cows were sorted by body condition score and preg-checked.  The BCS 5 & 6 cows had a pregnancy rate of 81%, whereas the BCS 3 & 4 cows had a pregnancy rate of 74%.  What does this information imply?

While a higher plane of nutrition is needed for thin cows, it is likely that other problems exist.

What is considered the ideal body condition score for both 1st and 2nd calf cows?

6

If a producer is to evaluate body condition only ONCE per year, when should that be done in order to implement timely corrective action that could result in reproductive IMPROVEMENTS for the SUBSEQUENT calf crop?

At weaning

During what period of the cow's productive cycle is "nutritional stress" likely to occur because it's the period of greatest nutrient requirements for the cow?

1st 80 days post-calving; associated with peak lactation

Body condition scores of cows should increase from breeding to weaning.  Which of the following would NOT be a potential reason that body condition scores might decrease from breeding to weaning?

As calves grow and get heavier there will be increased nutrient demands associated with greater milk production

During which of the following time frames would you expect to most easily and inexpensively improve body condition scores of thin cows and heifers

From weaning to calving

True or false: In general, production per animal decreases with increased stocking rates, but production per acre increases with increased stocking rates provided adequate forage is available.

True

Which of the following is an advantage of continuous grazing systems?

Low input costs

When calculating stocking rates, how many animal units should be assigned to a single cow/calf pair where the cow weighs 1500 lbs, and it nurses a 300-lb calf (on average) throughout the grazing period?

1.8 Animal Units - An animal unit is based upon 1,000 lbs of body weight

For cornstalk fields that are properly stocked, what nutrient is most likely to become deficient relative to the cows' needs after approximately 40 days of grazing?

Protein

For most grazing situations, to optimize both animal performance and forage sustainability, what is the most commonly recommended utilization or forage availability rate?

50% of the forage produced is available for grazing

How many 850-lb yearling heifers could be developed on a 1200-acre ranch in the Sand Hills from June 1 to Aug 30.  Expected average forage yield is 1100 lbs per acre

332 yearlings

When grazing cornstalks, approximately what percentage of the leaves/husks are estimated to be consumed with determination of stocking rates on corn residue?

50%

Relative to grazing management, what is "grazing intensity"?

The number of AUMs grazing a given plot at one time

Let's assume a cow in mid-gestation will consume 2% of her body weight daily in corn residue, and corn residue is 80% dry matter.  From a field that produced 200 bushels of corn that generated 1600 lbs of available stover per acre, how many 1200-lb cows should be able to graze a 100-acre field for 30 days?

178 cows

During a 6-month grazing season, a 300-acre section of pasture is estimated to produce 1500 lbs of forage per acre.  Assuming the utilization or availability rate is 50%, how many 1000-lb replacement heifers could be grazed on this pasture during this 6-month grazing season?  (Answer is rounded to the nearest whole number).

48 replacements

True or false: The rule of thumb for stocking rates is that as long as you are +/- 20% of the available AUM you do not need to adjust the stocking rate.

False

Which of the following is NOT true of short-duration (or intensively managed) grazing systems?

 

Forage is maintained within the vegetative state throughout the grazing season.

 

There is decreased plant selectivity by grazing animals.

 

There is less above ground biomass production due to multiple defoliations.

 

Carrying capacity of the forage is increased.

There is less above ground biomass production due to multiple defoliations.

After drought, nitrates will typically be concentrated within what part of the corn plant?

Stalks

How does the TDN of corn crop residue compare between the early part of the grazing period and the late part of the grazing period?

The residue has significantly higher TDN early in the grazing period than later (70 vs. 45%)

From a cornfield that yielded 200 bushels per acre, how much corn stover should be estimated as available for cows upon grazing?

1600 lbs/acre

As forages mature, which of the following is NOT true?

 

Palatability and consumption of the forage decreases.

 

Total yield (harvestable lbs of forage) increases.

 

Energy and protein content of the forage increases.

 

Digestibility of the forage decreases.

Energy and protein content of the forage increases

Using the standardized body condition scoring system for beef cattle, which of the following would be associated with a cow in thin condition, one who would likely respond to increased supplementation?

3

Which of the following would be a PRIMARY reason that calves born to BCS 3 cows tend to be lighter-weight at weaning compared to calves born to BCS 5 cows?

Long post-partum intervals for BCS 3 cows result in calves being born later in calving season which are younger at weaning

If you were to change the projected calving date of a 1200-lb cow that produces 20 lbs of milk/day during peak lactation from January 15 to June 15, what effect would that have on her nutrient requirements, two months postpartum?

Her nutrient requirements will not change

At the time of preg check or weaning, what body condition score would be associated with a thin cow that needs to gain ~ 250-300 lbs total weight (body weight + fetal conceptus weight) to be in optimal body condition by the time of calving?

3

Which of the following statements is NOT true in regards to the consequences of inadequate nutrition and body condition.

Lower BCS decreases calving intervals

How does forage maturity affect nutrient composition, expected consumption, and digestibility

Protein and energy content decrease; consumption and digestibility decreases.

Which of the following cows would you expect to have the greatest nutritional requirements?  Clue: pre-partum means before calving; post-partum means after calving.

 

1200-cow nursing a 450-lb calf, 5 months post-partum.

 

1200-lb cow nusring a 150-lb calf, 2 months post-partum.

 

Recently weaned 1200-lb cow, mid-gestation.

 

1200-lb cow in her 3rd trimester of gestation; 30 days pre-partum.

1200-lb cow nusring a 150-lb calf, 2 months post-partum

Using the AUM method of calculation, a producer wishes to get an estimate of how long he/she can expect to graze a group of eighty 1500-lb mid-gestation cows on 50 acres of corn residue.  Your extension educator has already determined that there should be 2,000 lbs of leaf/husks per acre available for grazing consumption.

32 days

What type of grazing system is recommended if range improvement and establishment of wildlife habitat to support recreational usage of the land are primary objectives?

Rest-Rotation Grazing:  One pasture section is not grazed for an entire year

Approximately how much dry leaf and husks in the corn residue is associated with each bushel of grain harvested per acre?

16 lbs

In a rest-rotation grazing system as depicted below,  what do pastures 1 & 2 provide for next year? 

 

Abundant habitat for wildlife

During a 3-month grazing season, a 200-acre pasture is estimated to produce 1400 lbs of forage per acre.  Assuming the utilization or availability rate is 50%, how many pairs (1200-lb cows; 200-lb calves) could be grazed on this pasture during this 3-month grazing season?  Answer is rounded to the nearest whole number.

43 pairs

True or false: "Mob" grazing systems simulate grazing herds of buffalo on the Great Plains 200 years ago.  It maximizes nutrient intake, extends plant recovery time, and allows for more uniform nitrogen distribution.

True

"Mob" grazing systems target approximately how much plant utilization within the first 2 hours of grazing?

70-80%

In determination of appropriate stocking rates, it is assumed that a cow will consume what percentage of her body weight in forage daily (as-fed)?  Clue -- How much forage is estimated to be consumed by 1 animal unit in one day?

2.6%

What level of grazing frequency and grazing intensity should maximize range improvement?

Low frequency, low intensity

True or false: The forage supply of nutrients may differ by forage species and location, but changes in supply of nutrients within a given location is predictable and follows nature.

True

What is body condition scoring used to monitor?

Nutrition Program

As a percentage of the cow's body weight, what would be the expected dry matter intake of an average quality forage, during lactation?

2.3% of the cow's body weight

During a 4-month grazing season, a 640-acre section of pasture is estimated to produce 1200 lbs of forage per acre.  Assuming the utilization or availability rate is 50%, how many 800-lb replacement heifers (rounded to the nearest whole number) could be grazed on this pasture during this 4-month grazing season?

154 heifers

How many 850-lb yearling heifers could be developed on a 1200-acre ranch in the Sand Hills from June 1 to Aug 30.  Expected average forage yield is 1100 lbs per acre.

332 yearlings

One AUM equals how many pounds of forage?

780

When grazing corn stalks, what is the most common strategy used by farmers and ranchers?

Whole field grazing

A 200-acre pasture was estimated to produce 1560 lbs of forage per acre over a 2-month period of time.  If properly stocked, how many AUMs of forage are available for animal grazing?

200 AUMs of forage available for grazing

When calculating available forage for grazing, what is the "rule of thumb" that functions to optimize both animal performance and forage longevity?

Take half, leave half

True or false: With "mob" grazing systems, cattle are rotated to new pastures on a daily basis.

True

What is the primary advantage of maintaining a younger cow herd?

Shorter generation interval and faster genetic progress

For what type of traits does crossbreeding show the greatest advantage?

Reproductive traits

As a rule of thumb, weaned calves should weigh approximately what percentage of their dam's mature weight?

50%

Which of the following EPDs provides a measure of reproductive longevity (probability or percentage of daughters expected to stay in the herd for at least 6 years) because reproductive failure is the #1 cause of cows being culled from the herd?

Stayability

What are two advantages of calving in June, compared to March?

Lower labor and harvested feed costs

True or false: Although short breeding seasons function to "force out" unproductive cows and will improve reproductive performance long-term, initial pregnancy rates will be lowered when an operation converts from a long- to short-breeding season.

True

What is the biological warning sign associated with too much selection for growth performance?

Increased birth weights and dystocia issues

What is the biological warning sign associated with selection for too much mature size and/or milk production?

Increased maintenance issues; an inability to maintain proper body condition

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding short vs. long breeding seasons?

Short breeding seasons require less labor at calving

Let's assume your current bull has an carcass weight EPD of 0, and the average carcass weight of his offspring used on your cows is 900 lbs.  Over the next three years, you use a different bull on that same group of cows as follows:

• Year 1; CW EPD = +10

• Year 2; CW EPD = +20

• Year 3; CW EPD = -10

What would you expect the average carcass weight of your cattle to be in Year 3?

890 lbs

For the commercial cattle producer, which targeted calving season provides greatest access to the highest traditional feeder calf markets?

September/October