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: [email protected]
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!