ABSTRACT
Reproduction in a beef cow herd is a fragile thing-easy to disrupt and difficult to reestablish. This chapter outlines those ingredients necessary for good reproduction to occur in a beef cow herd and then to show how the O'Connor Management System has been utilized to economically increase reproductive performance in a beef cow herd. Good reproduction is more than an abundant calf crop. To achieve good reproductive performance, a high proportion of the cows must calve early in the calving season. Body condition is important in determining the proportion of cows showing heat and becoming pregnant. Cow fertility is affected by two factors: the length of time from calving to breeding and weight change near breeding. Conception rate at first service increases markedly as the interval from calving to breeding increases up to 40 days after calving. By 50 days after calving, cows have generally reached optimum conception rates. This means higher conception rates at first service in early-calving cows.
