Benchmarking calving management practices on western Canada cow-calf operations

Abstract

Benchmarking current calving management practices and herd demographics in the western Canadian cow-calf production system helps to fill the gap in knowledge and understanding of how this production system works. Further investigation into the relationships between management decisions and calf health may guide the development of management practices and protocols to improve calf health, especially in compromised calves after a difficult birth. Therefore, the objectives of this cross-sectional study were to describe current calving management practices on western Canadian cow-calf ranches and to investigate the association of herd demographics with herd-level incidence of calving assistance, morbidity, mortality, and use of calving and colostrum management practices. Cow-calf producers were surveyed in January 2017 regarding herd inventory and management practices during the 2016 calving season. Ninety-seven of 110 producers enrolled in the western Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network responded. Average herd-level incidence of assisted calvings was 4.9% (13.5% heifers, 3.2% cows), stillbirths was 2.1% (3.3% heifers, 1.9% cows), preweaning mortality was 4.5%, and preweaning treatment for disease was 9.4% (3.0% neonatal calf diarrhea, 3.8% bovine respiratory disease, 2.6% other diseases). Greater than 90% of producers assisted calvings and would intervene with colostrum consumption if the calf did not appear to have nursed from its dam. Late calving herds (i.e., started calving in March or later) had significantly lower average herd-level incidence of assistance, treatment for disease, and mortality (P < 0.05). In earlier calving herds (i.e., started calving in January or February) producers had shorter intervals between checking on dams for signs of calving or intervening to assist with a calving (P < 0.05). In early calving herds, producers were more likely to perform hands-on colostrum management techniques such as placing the cow and calf together or feeding stored, frozen colostrum (P < 0.05). There were no associations between herd size and herd-level incidences or management techniques (P > 0.05). This study suggests that in western Canada earlier calving herds are more intensively managed, whereas later calving herds are more extensively managed. Herd demographics may be important to consider when investigating factors associated with management strategies, health, and productivity in cow-calf herds.

Keywords: beef cattle; benchmarking; calving management; colostrum management; cow–calf.

Figure 1.

Frequency of respondents self-identifying the type of housing of heifers and cows at different management periods from breeding to prior to calving on 97 cow–calf ranches surveyed through the Western Canadian Cow–Calf Surveillance Network. Extensive grazing was defined as cattle housed on large land areas with a relatively large number of acres per animal and the main feed source being grazing or green feed. Small pasture was defined as cattle housed on a small land area with a relatively low number of acres per animal with supplemental feed and/or grains provided as the main feed source either on the ground or in a feeder or feed bunk. Dry lot was defined as cattle housed in a cattle-dense dry lot (feedlot) with all feed and/or grains provided in a feeder or feed bunk.

Figure 2.

Frequency of respondents ranking resuscitation techniques from most to least commonly used on 97 cow–calf ranches surveyed through the Western Canadian Cow–Calf Surveillance Network.