Key-Lix Affect on Breeding: Lowest Open Rate

Bred cattle are the most important assest of any cow-calf herd. So when it comes to preg checking time, the word "open" feels like a curse word. It is a dreaded word that decides whether that cow is worth anything. An open cow does not produce a calf and therefore is just a feed pit. This is why having a low open percentage is so important.

Some factors that affect breeding rate are bull fertility, health status, stress levels, and most importantly, nutrition. Heifers and 1st calf heifers are the hardest animals to get bred. These animals have a smaller ruminal capacity but their nutrient requirements are significatly higher as they need to put nutrition towards their own body growth as well as the calf's growth. 1st calf heifers are particularily difficult to rebreed as they are trying to balance lactation, growth and reproductive recovery. Therefore, nutrition is the number one leader of rebreeding in 1st calf heifers.

This year we changed our mineral program in our replacement heifer and 1st calf heifer herds to full Key-Lix tubs and Saltec blocks. We had our 1st calf heifers on the Key-Lix Pre-Calving tubs prior to calving and continued them until we moved them to summer pasture. On summer pasture, both groups were on the Key-Lix 20% protein tubs with Saltec cobalt blocks free choice. We found that consumption was fairly consistent all summer, with it increasing slightly just before moving them to new grass.

We just brought our heifers and 1st calf heifers in yesterday to preg check and found a 7% open rate. This is the lowest rate we have had in a few years. We have also had a customer who consistently supplies Key-Lix tubs to his cow herd and his preg check yielded a 5% open rate. These are incredible results and speak to the hightened nutitional plane of these animals to allow their bodies to catch.

As much as the focus needs to be on rebreeding, it is also important to focus on the nutrition and stress levels of weaned calves. This is one of the most high risk times of year. The immune response is compromised due to the cortisol in the body. It is important to promote a healthy diet to ensure the calf can support its immune system and fight off infections.

WEANING TUBS

I would like to highlight our weaning tub today as well. Fall is a stressful time for calves and for the rancher. We are here to make it easier on you with this new product. These tubs have an added nutritional value to allow calves to get the same concentration of required mineral in a smaller amount. This allows calves in high stress situations to still meet requirements without having to stay and commit to consuing the tub. These tubs also have yeast. The yeast is in these tubs to help to aid in digestion in these calves transitions from milk dependant diets to a full feed ration. The good microbes growth in the rumen is promoted with this yeast ingestion. Immune response is also increased with yeast in the diet.

We would love to hear from you about your open rates in correlation with your current mineral program. This help us build our product base to cater to all ranches around us.