In today’s Beef Buzz, Oklahoma Farm Report intern Karleigh Erramouspe spoke with Dr. Ramon Tosta of New Life Veterinary Services. Dr. Tosta described estrus synchronization as “one of the greatest tools that we have developed as cattlemen,” emphasizing that “our cows need to be pregnant in order to be profitable for the ranch.” He explained that “the only way that we’re going to get those cows pregnant is we efficiently make them come into a heat If the cows are not calving every year, we have open cows” and thats bad for the bottom line.
When asked about other ways to improve reproductive efficiency, Dr. Tosta noted that producers “can enhance the value of bulls that are evaluated every year through a bull soundness exam.” He also encouraged “utilizing pregnancy diagnosis” and “evaluating your heifers,” pointing out that “your heifers have the highest genetic potential in your herd” and “you should be aiming at getting them pregnant every year” to introduce better genetics.
Discussing embryo transfer, Dr. Tosta said it can “basically change the genetic component of your herd.” He tells producers that “by doing embryo transfer, you’re going to turn 50 years of genetic improvement into five.” With superior cows, “the best way to do multiplication is through embryo transfer,” producing “many, many embryos” that can be “transferred fresh or frozen for a long period of time” to use later.
Tosta stressed that adopting technology doesn’t mean starting with the most advanced methods. “A great technology is just by having a breeding season within 60 to 90 days,” he explained, which will “allow calves to be born at the same time,” creating “a better group of contemporary calves” with “higher weaning weights” and “more sale power at the right time.”
Summing up, Dr. Tosta told producers to “take advantage of simple plans, strategies that will help them be more profitable.” He said, “We’re looking at pounds of beef per acre, and that’s the measurement that’s going to separate you from being efficient and from being inefficient in your herd.”
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
