Optimizing Reproductive Efficiency in the Beef Herd

Abstract

It is generally accepted that improving the fertility of a beef herd has the greatest potential for increased profitability. Optimum is a term used to define the best or most favorable condition, degree or amount for a particular situation.¹⁸ Therefore, optimizing rather than maximizing reproductive efficiency offers the greatest potential for increased profitability in the beef herd. Maximizing reproductive efficiency and attaining a 100 percent conception rate on a yearly basis may be attainable, but the input costs necessary to attain this rate may not be justified from an economic standpoint.

This paper is not meant to be an all-inclusive review of methods to improve reproductive efficiency; rather, methods to increase inherent fertility and environmental factors that play key roles in fertility will be discussed.