Why should ranchers schedule a pregnancy check for their cattle herd? It's a great question and one I hear often as a large animal veterinarian of 37 years here in Northern California.
Here's why I recommend preg checking to my cattle ranching clients.
Reasons to make preg checks part of your ranch management plan
I strongly believe that preg checking is one of the single most economical things you can do as a beef producer.
It's very expensive to run open cows. It essentially costs the same as running a cow that is producing a calf.
According to an article in Angus Beef Bulletin, it costs almost $1600/year to keep an open cow.
On the other hand, preg checking costs no more than just a few dollars per head and will prevent you from running open cows that aren't producing. It gives you a chance to have those statistics on your herd and make sure you are optimizing your grazing land.
3 preg checking methods
There are three basic methods of preg checking:
Green sleeve - The tried and true "green sleeve method" is of course the most common. Run your cattle in through a squeeze chute and a large animal veterinarian or someone who is experienced in preg checking should be able to handle about one preg check per minute, depending on your ranch setup.
Ultrasound - Some people prefer to preg check their cows using ultrasound technology. One of the pros of this method is you may be able to detect a pregnancy a little bit earlier. A downside would be that ultrasound typically takes a little longer, so getting answers will be a slower process.
Drawing blood - The final method of preg checking is through drawing blood and sending those samples in to be tested. With this method of course, results would be delayed, so again, this is a method that will take a little longer than the traditional "green sleeve" route. It can also be a little more expensive.
Which preg check method I recommend
Every rancher has different preferences or reasons based on their management styles and constrictions.
My typical recommendation, and the most common method of preg checking, is that old school green sleeve method. A veterinarian or technician experienced in detecting pregnancy in cattle can quickly and efficiently check for pregnancy manually and give you answers on the spot so you can avoid any delays in making your management decisions.
When you should schedule your annual a preg check
A good time to schedule a preg check appointment for your breeding herd is at weaning time.
Collect your Ranch Vision inputs at preg checking time
It's a great idea to collect all your Ranch Vision inputs at the time of preg checking.
In order to generate dozens of valuable reports, Ranch Vision only requires minimal, basic inputs using information ranchers either already know or can easily access.
Most likely this is information you have at the time of preg checking your herd.
I recommend incorporating a plan for gathering and implementing your Ranch Vision input updates into your annual preg checking appointment for maximum management efficiency.
Preg checking is smart management!
Preg checking is very cost-effective and a smart management choice. Otherwise, if you're not preg checking, you are basically looking at survival of the fittest. You don't know which cows are producing and which are not, and you may find yourself continually running a lot of cattle that aren't doing anything.
DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute medical advice and should not replace the advice of your veterinarian. As always, please consult of your veterinarian regarding any questions you have about the health of your livestock, don’t ignore professional guidance.
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