Applied Reproductive Management for Cattle

2011 Impacts Applied Reproductive Management for Cattle

-5 % of the Jicarilla producers participated in and gained knowledge from ranch plan development. These plans entailed livestock reproductive management, pasture management, marketing, and water development.
-40 Jicarilla livestock producers were received information regarding the Environmental Quality incentive program that is administered under the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This information helps producers understand the costs and benefits of participating in this program.
-4 Jicarilla livestock producers benefited by the Agent serving as a 3rd party to certify death losses in cattle from adverse weather conditions. This enabled these producers to receive financial reimbursement for their losses.
-110 Shiprock Ag day attendees learned from the agent the importance of range management and its relationship to better livestock management and higher potential operational profit.
-60 Jicarilla livestock producers learned from the agent marketing alternatives. These individuals also learned 3 basic livestock management practices that have increased their income from livestock by 10%.
-202 Native American producers learned about livestock handling techniques, range management and reproductive management from the Indian Livestock Days that the agent help plan, moderate and present at. These producers can use information gained to increases ease of operation and increase range condition while increasing operational profit.
-12 livestock producers have received information from the agent regarding vaccines and their proper use. While utilizing vaccines has increased the upfront cost for these producers there has been an observation of increased heard health.

2010-2011 Program Year
Due to drought this year the agent coordinated, assisted and facilitated three drought related meetings over the course of the 2011 year. The first of the series was to address spring turn out onto USFS and BLM properties. A series of planning meetings were held with US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), NM Game and Fish, Farm Service Agency (FSA), Extension Northern District Director, Santa Fe County Extension Director along with some grazing premittees. The meetings were designed to address management decisions during drought. The US Forest Service and BLM would addressed their methods for determining grazing season terms and stocking rate, while NMSU Extension addressed management of livestock during drought. Meetings were not well attended. Although content of the meetings were excellent as a US Forest Service employee stated “I didn’t know that early weaning had so much impact on cow performance during drought”. The third and fall meeting addressed information relating of FSA’s non-insurable crop insurance (NAP) that would pay producers in times of disaster. Since the entire state was declared a drought disaster producers who had bought NAP insurance and those that had not were eligible to receive disaster relief dollars. There was deadline of September 30th for producers to meet. In addition other FSA programs were also introduced since the audience varied.
Once again the agent was involved in the Ghost Ranch and Cerro Azul grazing land assessment for winter grazing. The drought had a big influence on forage production 2011. Both range lands will have reductions in stock numbers. Ghost Ranch is looking at least a 50% reduction in numbers and possibly time. Cerro Azul is estimating 20 % reduction and shorting in time of grazing in late winter early spring. Over all Rio Arriba County was not as severely impacted by drought as the rest of the state. Weather was a little more abundant in the county than the rest of the state; however there was some sell off of some stock.

2011 Long-Term Objective Report:

The Sierra County Extension agent continues to work with producers on decreasing input costs while not sacrificing conception rates or quality of heats. As a direct result of extension recommendations, input costs associated with synchronization protocols have decreased by 30% in the past year.

2011 Medium-Term Objective Report:

100% of producers using advanced artificial insemination protocols in Sierra County are experiencing conception rates of 75% or greater in Sierra County. This figure meeting the medium term objective of improving conception rates by 25%.

2011 Short-Term Objective Report:

Strong relationships are developed and conversational reviews have been completed with 100% of all show stock producers in Sierra County.

All producers have a positive attitude and are receptive to extension recommendations. Approximately 75% of producers exhibit satisfaction with improved conception rates associated with recommended protocols and will continue using them. The remaining 25% have a positive attitude towards new protocols but general dissatisfaction with overall A.I. success rates and are considering returning to natural breeding.