A survey of Mississippi cow-calf producers regarding factors associated with veterinarians performing bull breeding soundness evaluations and/or pregnancy diagnosis

Authors

  • Todd G. Gunderson Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
  • W. Isaac Jumper Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
  • E. Heath King Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
  • Carla L. Huston Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
  • David R. Smith Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol58no1p41-50

Keywords:

reproductive efficiency, producer survey

Abstract

Reproductive efficiency is a major driver of profitability in cow-calf herds, yet many beef producers do not hire veterinar­ians to perform services intended to improve reproductive ef­ficiency such as bull breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) or pregnancy diagnosis. The objective of this study was to deter­mine reasons Mississippi cow-calf producers do or do not hire veterinarians to perform these services. Anonymous surveys were mailed to 1,500 randomly selected members of the Missis­sippi Cattlemen’s Association. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test respondent characteristics for association with outcome variables (e.g., respondents hire a veterinarian for BSEs and/or pregnancy diagnosis). Of 414 returned surveys, 397 (96%) qualified for analysis for an overall response rate of 26%. Of respondents that answered the respective ques­tions, 155/386 (40%) hire a veterinarian for BSEs, and 103/392 (26%) hire a veterinarian for pregnancy diagnosis. Of 396 re­spondents, 229 (58%) indicated they had some form of a defined breeding season. The most common reasons for not hiring a veterinarian were lack of time/help (82/202, 41%) for BSEs and cost (91/248, 37%) for pregnancy diagnosis. On in­ferential analysis, the factors positively associated with hiring a veterinarian for BSEs were having a defined breeding season (OR = 6.8, 95% C.I. = 4.1-11.1) and raising seedstock cattle (OR = 1.7, 95%C.I. = 1.0-13.3). The only factor positively associ­ated with hiring a veterinarian for pregnancy diagnosis was having a defined breeding season (OR = 4.2, 95%C.I. = 2.5-7.3). Management style and operation type influenced producers hiring a veterinarian for BSEs and pregnancy diagnosis.

Downloads

Published

2024-02-24

How to Cite

Gunderson, T. G., Jumper, W. I., King, E. H., Huston, C. L., & Smith, D. R. (2024). A survey of Mississippi cow-calf producers regarding factors associated with veterinarians performing bull breeding soundness evaluations and/or pregnancy diagnosis. The Bovine Practitioner, 58(1), 41–50. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol58no1p41-50

Issue

Section

Research Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>