SLAYTON — University of Minnesota Extension will host a four-part spring beef webinar series, Genetic Selection with a Vision: An integrated approach to creating profitability and opportunities for every type of beef cattle producer. The Zoom meetings will be offered from 8 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 21 and 28, and March 7 and 14.
The webinar series will focus on how to select for beef sire selection, associated costs using artificial insemination vs. natural service, cost of raising replacement heifers vs. purchasing them, and how to care for the bull throughout the year and prior to turnout to ensure a successful breeding season.
Farmers, 4-H’ers, ag business professionals who work with farmers, and anyone interested in beef cattle production are invited to attend.
Feb. 21: Buying the Bull: How to Make Smart Decisions on Sale Day. Topics include balancing the use of EPDs, GE-EPDs, performance data, ratios, indices, pedigree and phenotype to determine which bulls to purchase or which A.I. sires to use in your herd. Navigate through all the different types of data and learn which is most important to use based on your program objectives.
Feb. 28: Breeding Costs: Artificial insemination vs. Natural Service. Compare and contrast the different expenses associated with incorporating A.I. in the herd vs. using bulls for natural service. Overview of most commonly used synchronization protocols will be discussed, as well as best management practices to maintain a tight calving window and improve reproductive efficiency in the herd.
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March 7: Raising vs. Purchasing Replacement Heifers. Topics include expenses associated with raising your own replacement heifers vs. purchasing them, and the trade-offs and considerations of using either management strategy. Also discussed will be the option of using a bi-annual replacement system, and how to make replacement decisions based on the cattle cycle.
March 14: Bull Breeding Soundness Exams and Bull Health. Topics include an overview of bull breeding soundness exams (BSE) and when they should be done prior to the breeding season, how many bulls are needed based on the number of females they will be breeding, bull vaccine protocols, and other year-round bull management considerations.
Pre-registration is required at z.umn.edu/BeefGenetics. If you are unable to attend the live sessions, you will receive the recordings for all the sessions via email at the end of the series.
