Running a profitable livestock enterprise

focusing on production and reproduction

efficiency

Prof Edward WebbProfessor of Production Animal Physiology & Meat Science

Production Animal Physiology Research Group

Department of Animal Science

University of Pretoria

Email: edward.webb@up.ac.za

Tel. 082 929 7562

Point 1: ‘Man’ in ‘Man’agement is

most important (Bonsma, 1980)

• 1st point: Management is most important

• If we understand the principles and processes

of systems, we can manage virtually anything

better

2

Profitability

• Profitability = “the degree to which a business

or activity yields profit or financial gain” (Oxford

dictionary)

• Profitability of Livestock production = the joyful*

practice of producing animals for profit or

financial gain

*Enjoy working with livestock in a chosen environment

3

Which livestock are most profitable?

4

Productive efficiency

or capacity

5

From “The Alternative Board”

What is efficiency?

• Efficiency = eta

• Efficiency is the amount of divisions ordered from a task.

• In mathematical terms, efficiency is a measure of the

extent to which inputs are used for an intended task or

function. Wikipedia

6

Sustainable yield x Edible products x

consistently high quality

Natural & human

resources

Environmental factors and variations

Production efficiency

*Region / farm

*Breed / maturity type

*Reproduction efficiency

*Growth

*Herd fertility

*Conception rate

*Calving rate

*Weaning rate

*Re-conception rate

* Bull & cow fertility

*Sex ratio

*Disease status

*% of herd bred

Efficiency (capacity) of cattle production

(beef cattle example)

Always a function of time. (from Webb, 2013)

1. Factors

2. Drivers

8

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Total beef produced in RSA per year in the last 10 years

1000 t

Past 10-years (Webb, 2018, Cattleman conference)

• Cattle numbers decreased

by 10%

• Beef production increased

by >30%.

Recent trends in efficiency of RSA

beef production?

9

Point 2: Philosophy for efficient beef cattle

production

1. ‘Farm with grass / grazing’

(both the quantity and quality are important)

2. Cattle must be adaptable, fertile and productive

Reproduction

Fertility1. Female component traits2. Aggregate traits3. Male component traits

10

Reproduction♀ ♂

G + E

Diseases

G + E

Diseases

Conception, implantation, gestation, parturition, involution

What influences reproduction

efficiency?

Management ≥ 90%; Genetics < 10%

a) Herd composition and replacement rates,

b) Breeding seasons and strategies, i. Heifers & cows

ii. Involution and oestrus management

c) Feeding and strategic supplementation,i. Phosphorus, protein & energy licks

ii. Creep feeding

d) Herd health and fertility,

e) Use of reproduction technologies (A.I., E.T. etc.)

f) Record keeping and regular M&E

11

Reproduction is a complex science

Some strategies to improve

cattle production

♀?♂

12

13

Management and biotechnologies have greatly

benefitted the SA livestock industry

Prof. Senger, Washington State Univ.

Reproduction biotechnologies

14

Several reproduction biotechnologies!

1. Managing breeding and breeding seasons (natural or hormones)

2. Managing mating behaviour and record keeping

3. Growth and nutritional management

4. Management of reproduction diseases

5. Semen collection and storage

6. Synchronization of oestrus

7. Artificial insemination (AI) & improved techniques

8. Superovulation, embryo splitting and transfer

9. In vitro capacitation and fertilization

10.Biotechnology (sex determination e.g. X-linked enzyme &

H-Y-antigen; gene transfer; genetic markers e.g. SNPs)

(Established concepts to consider……)

15

1. Does size

matter?

16

17

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

Proportion of females reproduce

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

female reproduce)

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Female reproduce)

Curve of genetic potential to reproduce

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

Environmental limitation

(can move from year to year

OR from 1 farm to the next)

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

Lower environmental

constraints (more

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Nu

mb

er

of

an

ima

ls

Proportion of females reproduce

100% 0%50%

Very low

potentialVery high

potential

constraints (more

female reproduce)

Bigger environmental

constraints (less

Female reproduce)

Curve of genetic potential to reproduceCurve of genetic potential to reproduce

2. Environmental effects on reproduction (From Dr. J. vd Westhuyizen; Webb et al., 2018)

3. Beef production cycle and managing

cattle fertility (From Webb, 2013)

Mating

Conception

Pregnancy

Calving

Suckling

Weaning

Bull in Bull outReconception

Involution

365 days reproduction cycle

Day 1 Day 365

18

4. Parameters to manage reproduction

efficiency

19

Beef production performanceQuantitative

1.Calving rate and interval

2.Weight weaned

3. Weight sold

Reproduction performance• Services per conception

• Calving rate

• Non-return rates

20

(Senger, 2005)

(+)(-)x

G+E

(Genotype x

Environmental

factors)

High

Moderate

Low

Reproduction efficiency

GhRH,

IGFs

+ GnRH

FSH, LH

5. Physiological

control of

reproduction

6a. Cow age vs kg calf weaned

21

6b. Cow age vs Intercalving period

22

7. Libido, scrotal circumference, semen quality,

morphology and disease status

24

8. Artificial Insemination

♀♂

x

1. A.I. developed by the need to control or prevent venereal diseases

2. Added benefits:a) Increase genetic gain (use of proven sires)

b) Semen of a proven male can be used to sire thousands of progeny

c) More efficient technology (expenses & logistics of breeding)

d) Use in small herds where farmers cannot afford to keep males

e) Conservation of genetic resources

=

25

9. Synchronisation of oestrus:

TAI-programmes

• PRID-delta

• CIDR

• DIB’s

26

RTS 30 d post-partum (n=103)

Start of breeding season (n=117)

Score Total Preg. % Total Preg. %

1 - - - 4 0 0a

2 14 5 36%a 14 3 21%a

3 62 47 76%b 38 23 61%b

4 27 25 93%c 46 42 91%c

5 - - - 15 15 100%c

abc Indicates differences within columns (P<0.01)

10. Reproductive tract scoring (RTS) of

breeding cows to improve conception rates

27

11. Cow-calf management

• Calf removal strategies

1. Lactation anoestrus

2. Suckling / weaning

3. Suckling time (melatonin)

4. BCS at calving, BW, RTS

5. Intercalving period / involution

(Erscrivao & Webb, 2009 & 2012)

Days to conception (Escrivao & Webb, 2009 & 2012, Trop.Anim.Health & Prod.)

28

12. Managing assisted births, dystocia and

selection for growth (Holm, Webb & Thompson, 2014, J.Anim.Sci.)

29

13. Beef herd dynamics

Replacement %, buying, selling ?

1.Beef cows conceive at ca. 15 to 18 months of age

2.Start calving down at 2,5 to 3 years of age

3.Productive life = 8 to 9 years

4.Replacement heifers require additional period of 3 years to conceive and calve down for the first time.

5.Replace the herd over a 5 to 6 year period (8-3 = 5 or 9-3=6)

6.Replace about a fifth to a sixth of the herd per annum:

– so between 1/5 x 100 = 20% per annum; or

– 1/6 x 100 = 16,6% per annum

7.On average ca. 18% of the breeding herd should be replaced per annum to maintain a healthy herd composition.

30

14. New developments on the horizon

31

• Nutrition

• Negative energy balance

• Uterine microbiome

32

A.I.%Herd

Inseminated

Herd fertility % Semen Fertility % Inseminator

efficiency %

Pregnancy

rate %

100% 95% 95% 95% 85.7

95% 90% 90% 80% 61.6

90% 90% 80% 80% 51.8

90% 80% 80% 80% 46.1

90% 80% 70% 100% 50.4

Natural

mating % Herd bred Herd fertility Bull fertility + sex

ratio

Pregnancy

rate %

90% 80% 100% 72.0

90% 70% 100% 63.0

15. Calculating conception rates of cattle

Q: How do we achieve all of this?

1. Partner with professional animal scientists and veterinarians

2. Put concepts into accurate and precise plans and

management

33

From Western Oregon University

Conclusions

1.Management of genetics, growth and nutrition

are critical for effective reproduction

2. Improved management and reproduction

technologies have benefitted beef production

in SA

3.Several technologies are available but many

are not adopted and used well

4. Improve recording and M&E

5.Use genetic resources and biotechnologies

more wisely

34

I would like to express my deepest

sympathy to all the victims of farm

attacks and murders

Thank you!