Oestrus management in beef cows

Objectives for oestrus management in a beef herd

• A compact breeding season followed by a short, planned calving season- induction of oestrus and insemination of the maximum number of cows within an acceptable period post partum
• A uniform calf crop- for rearing farms and feedlots
• Increased use of AI- to improve genetic merit of herds and limit the spread of infectious diseases
• Management of embryo donors and recipients- in embryo transfer programs
• Management of oestrus in cows with suckling calves

Pharmacological oestrus management

Can also be used as therapeutic measure in cases of:

• post partum anoestrus
• Cystic Ovarian Disease
• Persistent corpus luteum

Because of high incidence of post partum anoestrus in beef herds the following methods of oestrus management are recommended:

Beef cows with calves, especially reared on pasture:

• Progestagens (progesterone and progestagens)
• Combination of Ovsynch protocol with progestagens

Beef cows in smaller herds with high percentage of cycling cows:

• Ovsynch protocol and modifications
• Progestagens (progesterone and progestagens)