Applied Reproductive Management for Cattle

This years’ Tucumcari Bull test included 120 performance tested yearling bulls. This has been a 40% increase from the previous year. More than half of the cooperators were new to the program having never before tested at the Tucumcari Science Center. Additionally, cooperators new to the program were unfamiliar to the feeding rations. The test includes a high forage based diet with data taken on an 112 day test for average daily gain, feed efficiency, ultrasound and the 56 marker DNA panel. Included in the panel were markers for feed efficiency, marbling and tenderness. Bulls undergo a complete breeding soundness exam for TB, Trich and PvBVD. Another newly implemented test was for verified Angus bulls Arthagryposis Multiplex Free (AMF).
Over a series of bull test reports and newsletter highlights cooperators and producers are able to track record improvements in herd sires within the test. Quay County clientele are able to record and have on hand a printout of performance notes on each tested sire. In addition, research articles, publications, and special article stories highlight selection criteria and evaluation for potential bull purchasers. Informational workshops were also included in traditional program events such as the Tucumcari Ag. & Home Ec. Seminar, Southwest Beef cattleman’s symposium and Joint Stockman’s Convention.
Another highlight of the performance test is the Pre – Bull sale event. The program serves as an educational tool to inform participants on the desired criteria of purchasing a herd sire. It also summarizes all information and data collected throughout the 112 day feeding period. This gives potential buyers a chance to meet with cooperators and ask questions on specific breeding, pedigree and performance. Of the over 70 participants of the program 60% stated an increased knowledge of the new gene technology and its usefulness in bull selection. 70% stated they would look for breeding soundness test in their selection similar to or as close to those used in the Tucumcari Bull Test data set.
Ninety percent stated an increased in knowledge of sire selection skills. The program and social is attended by local, area, and state cattlemen with 2% attending from other states.

To meet the needs of 42 small and medium individuals ranchers on reproductive management. the Guadalupe County Livestock Producers Assocaition in coordination with the county agent has provided several monthly meeting to discuss different methods on how to mange cows during a drought. How to maintain cow effeceincy and maintain calf growth.The meeting have resulted in producers taking greater responsiblity of their herd by downsizing , culling deeper and removing calves earlier. Selling in greater truck load lots and utilizing more short term grazing and rotateing faster thru the pastures. While maintaining thier grass growth during the summer season.

2008-2009 Program Year
Range monitoring continues on three different ranges. Ghost Ranch is privately owned by the Presbyterian Church while Cerro Azul and Jarita Mesa are on USFS lands. The Agent assists land mangers with making assessments on how many to stock. Over the past few years these ranges have been assessed to manage for forage supply and demand. Since these ranges change from year to year an assessment gives the range managers option on systems to implement for the year. Drought in the past ten years has drastically changed the methods that range managers used in order to manage forage supply and demand. Winter grazing has assisted producers with feeding less or no harvested hay. The implications of having enough feed during critical periods of gestation in a beef cow herd are profound. Nutrition is especially important during the third trimester of pregnancy. Having adequate feed will lead to increased reproductive efficiency.
As for the Ghost Ranch winter range, it was stock heavily with up to 900 head for a short time. Ghost Ranch is on a high intensity, short duration stocking rate. Livestock preformed adequately for the time period that they were on the Ghost Ranch property. As for the Cerro Azul winter grazing allotment it was stocked to capacity. The forage supply met the forage demand of the livestock.

Eugenio Lujan has signed on to support Applied Reproductive Management for Cattle within Guadalupe County.

By continuing to implement educational workshops, demonstrations, conferences and current research information using extension personnel and specialists to increase the necessary practical skills, tools, and understanding of herd health and livestock genetics for them to effectively communicate the subject matter to Livestock producers on tribal lands.