The Rural Voice, 1999-02, Page 14Robert Mercer
Low cost production with photoperiod commentary
Last month I was introduced to a
whole new concept in breeding in
low cost cow/calf operations.
I was listening to a talk at a forage
seminar about how to manage a beef
operation and calving when the
subject of photoperiod was
introduced. It was the first time I had
come across this concept in relation-
ship to agricultural management
outside of chicken production.
In this talk, photoperiod related to
the age of heifers at first estrus as
determined by the photoperiod of the
year. Also cows calving from June
through August will commence
cycling within 60 days of calving.
Those calving in the winter may not
cycle for 90 days or more after
calving.
What was being discussed was the
length of daylight at different
latitudes and different times of year,
and how that affected the ability of
the cattlemen to increase conception
rates and shorten the calving interval.
What research has shown, the beef
cattle and dairy producers were told,
was that "the cow that calves during
the longest day
of the year has a
much shorter
anestrus period
(postpartum
interval to first
estrus) than does
the cow that
calves on the
shortest day of
the year."
As heifer
calves are 20 per
cent more fertile
during their third
heat than during
their pubertal
estrus, an earlier
conception can be obtained when
cows are calved during high daylight
hours.
Not to let producers think that this
would cure any other management
Longer days
increase cow's
productivity
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10 THE RURAL VOICE
problems, Dr. Dick Diven from
Tuscon, Arizona said that the ability
of the cow to conceive is controlled
more by body condition at the time of
calving than any other factor.
Although his approach was
summarized by saying — calve when
the sun is shining and the grass is
green — he had other keys to low
cost production.
Dr. Diven spoke at considerable
length on using the cow's ability to
store and relinquish energy in the
form of body fat, and how this was
tied to the growing season for forages
in the lush spring and sparse winter.
He felt that it was important to use
the cow as the harvest method and
the land as the storage equipment. He
was not a proponent of fossil fuel
technology as applied to the
limitations of the land.
In terms of supplemental feeding
he was most particular about the use
of a balanced supplement that
accounted for all forage deficiencies
relative to the animal — no more and
no less.
He said that the mineral
supplement must be carefully
formulated on the basis of regular,
detailed forage samples over the year,
and fed free choice. Diven said that if
the diet was good, the cattle will self -
feed a free choice supplement
without danger of exceeding
recommended daily intake. The only
thing to watch is the weather
conditions. If it gets too cold for too
long (minus 15C for two weeks) the
cattle may start to eat too much.
Dr. Dick Diven is a livestock
nutritionist and runs three-day
ruminant nutrition schools throughout
North America. His approach is to
focus on low costs for the cow/calf
operator. At this meeting he had the
morning session and spoke to
questions for an hour after lunch.
(If you want a different type of
speaker at your next field day your
livestock advisor can contact him for
a presentation in your area at Agri
Concepts Inc., 12580 N Bandanna
Way, Tuscon AZ 85737).0
Robert Mercer was editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter and a farm
commen ator in Ontario for 25 years.