Evaluating the Sustainability of Beef Cattle Breeding Systems

Evaluating the Sustainability of Beef Cattle Breeding Systems

Summary

The purpose of the project is to evaluate two beef cattle breeding systems with a focus on understanding three key areas of sustainability within each system: production, performance, and profit. Within herds at each location, cows were assigned to one of two breeding systems: 1) cows will be bred via natural service bulls (NS); and 2) cows will be bred via artificial insemination followed by exposure to natural service bulls (AI). Producers at each location worked closely with their country Extension agent to accomplish research objectives and project personnel were on location at each operation at least four times in order to accomplish research objectives. The project was split into 2 cohorts, one starting in 2013 and one in 2014.  Three meetings are held separately for each cohort of producers.  At each meeting surveys and tests are administered to gather data and focus group sessions are held to discuss topics pertinent to the current stage of the project.  In addition, focus group sessions are held with participating county Extension staff at each meeting to gather input about their perceptions of the effort and how the project has impacted them professionally and personally.

Cooperating operations beginning project in in Year 1 (2013) included Sorenson Ranch in Watford City, ND, Alme Farm & Ranch in Balfour, ND, Enge Farm & Ranch in Stanley, ND, and Hintz Stock Farms in New Salem, ND. In Year 2 (2014) 6 commercial beef operations (Cohort 2) began their collaborations with the effort: Cooperating operations added in Jim Enge in Stanley ND, TJ Alme in Balfour, ND, Aaron Hintz in Year 2 include Jerid and Camie Janikowski in Bowman, ND, Klein Ranch in Hazen, ND, Kent and Judy Oland in Sheldon, ND, Dustin Roise in Powers Lake, ND, Chris and Nadine Tedford in McKlusky, ND, and Rodney and Karen Schmidt in Streeter, ND. A midpoint meeting was held for Cohort 2 participants in early 2015 to field questions from participating producers about what to anticipate during their upcoming calving season, and to have focus group conversations about project activities and how their herd production, performance, and profit measures could be used to improve their operation’s sustainability.  Data collection from Year 1 was completed in late 2014/early 2015, whereas data collection from Year 2 was completed in late 2015/early 2016.  Preliminary analysis of all data revealed that no differences (P = 0.43) were present in season ending pregnancy rates between cows in the NS (92.9%) and AI (92.5%) treatments.  However, calf weaning weights were greater (P < 0.001) for calves from the AI treatment (564.5 lb.) compared with calves from the NS treatment (541.3 lb.). 

Each producer also participated in the CHAPS and Farm Business Management programs to better understand the performance and profit aspect of the project. Focus groups are used to assess the participating producers’ perceptions of how each program contributes to their understanding of strengths and weaknesses of their operation.

We are currently working on partial budget analysis for each herd and a final meeting of all participants will be held in 2016 to discuss how the effort has impacted the outlook each producer has regarding their operation and what subsequent steps each producer plans to take to position their operation for long-term sustainability. In addition, roundtable discussion of the independent components of the project; breeding systems, cow herd performance evaluation, farm financial records and how they each contribute to attaining sustainability

Objectives/Performance Targets

Short term outcomes:

1. Determination of production, performance, and profit responses of two beef cattle breeding systems implemented on each of 10 cooperating producer operations.
2. Increased skills, awareness and knowledge of cooperating producers regarding breeding systems, herd performance, and beef production system finances
3. Continuing education for NDSU Extension and ND Farm Business Management groups
4. Creation of a network of producers and Extension agents that fosters discussion and group learning related to the sustainability of beef production systems

Intermediate outcomes:

1. Documented changes over time in perception of participating collaborators and producers regarding breeding systems, herd performance, and beef production system finances  
2. Increased use of the tested breeding strategies, herd performance evaluation and Farm Business Management services by producers participating in the project
3. Improved sustainability (optimization of profitability and quality of life) for participating producers
4. Increased awareness and knowledge of breeding systems, herd performance, and beef production system finances of producers, students, veterinarians, and members of allied industries attending programs, receiving educational materials produced via grant-related activities, or otherwise interacting with personnel involved with the proposed project.

Accomplishments/Milestones

As of late February 2016 data regarding the performance portion of our effort have been collected from each of 10 participating producers (4 that started during 2013 and 6 that started during 2014). Preliminary analysis of data revealed that no differences (P = 0.43) were present in season ending pregnancy rates between cows in the NS (92.9%) and AI (92.5%) treatments.  Cows in the AI treatment calved 7 d earlier (P < 0.001) compared with cows in the NS treatment.  Further analysis of calving distribution revealed that a greater proportion (P < 0.001) of cows in the AI treatment (46.7%) gave birth in the first 21 d of the calving season compared with cows in the NS treatment (30.3%).  From d 22 to 42 a greater proportion (P < 0.001) cows in the NS treatment (39.7%) gave birth compared to cows in the AI treatment (27.4%), and a greater proportion of cows in the NS treatment (21.9%) gave birth from d 42 to the end of the calving season compared with cows in the AI treatment (15.3%).  The proportion of cows that did not calve was similar among treatments.  Calf weaning weights were greater (P < 0.001) for calves from the AI treatment (564.5 lb.) compared with calves from the NS treatment (541.3 lb.). 

Factors contributing to pregnancy success were also evaluated. As days after calving (days postpartum; DPP) increased, the proportion of cows calving in the first 21 days of the calving season increased (10.7% for cows < 20 DPP, 23.1% for cows from 21 to 40 DPP, 45.7% for cows from 41 to 60 DPP, 52.4% for cows from 61-80 DPP, 52.0% for cows from 81 to 100 DPP, 68.3% for cows from 101 to 120 DPP, and 93.1% for cows >120 DPP, respectively; P < 0.001).  In addition, the proportion of cows calving in the first 21 d of the calving season increased with increasing body condition score (28.8%, 45.5%, 48.6%, 54.2%, and 52.8% for cows with BCS <4, 4, 4.5, 5, and >5, respectively; P < 0.001). Weaning weight results, along with costs of implementing each respective breeding system will be included in a partial budget analysis to compare the implication of each breeding system on overall operational profitability.

Short term objectives 2-4 have been further addressed during this reporting year. In addition, Intermediate outcomes 1 and 2 have been documented on each of the 10 cooperating producers and county Extension staff participating in our project, and intermediate outcome #4 continues to be addressed through outreach efforts associated with the project. 

A survey addressing short- and intermediate-term objectives was distributed to project participants in late 2015. A summary of a survey questions and participant responses follows:

Additional follow-up survey questions of program participants revealed:

88.8% have implemented AI in their operations since participation in the program

100% have shared information or experiences from the program with others

Examples include: other producers, friends, family, neighbors, bankers, field day tours, radio interviews, brought AI and natural service pens to county fair

88.9% have made changes to their operation (that did not include breeding techniques or breeding management) as a result of learning during the course of the program

Examples include: placed a lot of effort on making sure cow herd nutrition is appropriate, more attention to bull selection, bought higher value bulls, kept more detailed records, identified management areas that needed improving, improvements to cattle handling facilities, spent more time on herd health, put more value on cow herd (both time and financial), added haying enterprise because we were more confident in cost of production  

Responses to question about change in value of several facets of participants’ operations:

100% indicated an increase in the genetic value of their calves

87.5% indicated an increase in the value of replacement heifers retained

Reported estimate of increase in value was $503 per heifer generated

77.8% indicated an increase in whole herd value as a result of their participation

Reported estimated of increase in value of $15,500 per operation

We are also still evaluating out longitudinal assessments and focus group responses and using them to create appropriate focus groups questions for our final meeting.

During 2016 the data collected from this project will serve as the basis for 3 Extension bulletins, a peer-reviewed manuscript that will be submitted for publication, and producers will share their experiences during a round-table discussion and at individual meeting held in their counties.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Project design, concepts, and progress were shared with have been shared at Face to face with 800 producers during this reporting period. Continuing education training sessions were held for North Dakota State University Extension Agents, project details were presented in 3 articles in major regional farm news outlets, an Impact Report was developed (Available at: http://tinyurl.com/BreedingSystemSustainability), and an overview of our effort to evaluate the sustainability of beef cattle breeding systems were presented in an NDSU publication “Annual Highlights of the ND Ag Experiment Station. We documented that participating producers have increased skills, awareness and knowledge of breeding systems, herd performance, and financial aspects of their operation.  A defined shift in calving distribution was noted at participants’ operations after implementing the AI treatment and calf weaning weights were also heavier for calved born in the AI treatment. We also documented that all producers have shared information regarding the project with other producers and 8 of 9 producers responding to survey questions indicated that they have changed their breeding systems as a result of their participation in the project.  Our longitudinal evaluations and focus group sessions will continue for each group of producers, and we will wrap up all project deliverables in 2016.

Collaborators: