Two Sides of the Heifer Coin

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

 

There are numerous unique factors that make the beef cattle industry complex.  Chief among those are the heifer dynamics that are central to cattle cycles.  Two biological facts are critical: cows have one calf at a time in a rather slow biological process; and two, heifers can be used for current beef production or breeding for future production in a one for one trade-off.  This means that when cattle numbers, specifically the cow herd, are low, retention of heifers to increase beef production makes the already short supply of beef even smaller before the cow inventory can expand and lead to increased beef production with 2–3-year lag. 

 

Table 1 summarizes the last four cyclical beef cow herd expansions since 1975.  With the exception of the truncated 2005-2006 expansion, the other three cycles have several similar characteristics.  In most cases, the total increase in the cow herd from trough to peak is 2.2 to 2.9 million head, an increase of 5.8 to 9.4 percent.  The corresponding increase in replacement heifers ranged from 1.1 to just over 1.2 million head in three of the four cycles. The most recent cycle, from 2014-2019, was different in that the increase in beef replacement heifers started prior to herd expansion and ended prior to the peak in herd inventory.  This is likely an indication that there was pent up desire to expand that was delayed due to drought in 2011-2013.

 

Table 1.  Cattle Cycle Herd Expansions Since 1975

*1991-1995; **2012-2017

 

The inverse relationship between heifers used for beef production and heifers retained for breeding is shown in Figure 1.  The blue line (left side scale) shows heifers as a percent of total fed slaughter from 1975-2023, while the red columns (right side scale) indicate the percent change in beef replacement heifer inventory from the previous year.  The green ovals highlight cyclical herd expansions in Table 1.  In each case, as the beef replacement heifer inventory increases, the percentage of heifers in the fed slaughter total necessarily declines.  The decline in this percentage in the most recent cycle was especially sharp, dropping below 34 percent for three years, the lowest levels in the 49 years from 1975-2023. 

 

Figure 1. Heifer Slaughter % of Total Fed Cattle Slaughter & % Change in Beef Replacement Heifers

 

Figure 1 provides some insights into the future.  The far-right side of the graph shows that heifer slaughter as a percent of fed slaughter is as high as it has ever been at 40 percent in 2023. This matches the previous high of 40 percent in 2000 and 2001.  At the same time, the replacement heifer inventory has been decreasing and the beef cow herd continues to get smaller.  In the first quarter of 2024, the heifer slaughter percentage was 40.5 percent, down fractionally year over year for the same period.  

 

It is not clear if the next herd expansion will require the heifer slaughter percentage to drop as much as the 2015-2017 period, but it must drop below the long-run average of just over 37 percent and likely to the 35-36 percent range. There is no indication that is happening yet.

 

Economically Relevant Traits – Blueprint For The Future Conference Part 2

Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

 

Analyzing your cow-calf production system includes taking a look at:

1. The genotype of your cattle
2. Your production environment
3. Fixed resources and management
4. Economic factors such as input cost and marketing endpoints

 

How these components interact in your production system should determine the most Economically Relevant Traits (ERT) to your operation. The ERTs of significance to your operation should impact your selection and mating program. When considering what the most ERTs are to your operation consider the following questions:

1. If you sell all calves at weaning each year, is your ERT weaning weight? pounds of calf weaned per exposed female? or pounds of calf weaned per acre of pasture utilized in your production system?
2. If you retain ownership of calves through finishing and sell fed cattle on a carcass value basis, are your ERTs traits such a marbling and hot carcass weight or pounds of carcass produced per acre utilized in your production system?

 

By design, the questions force producers to consider input costs relative to the value of calves marketed at various endpoints. Analyzing the components of your production system should force you to answer questions about efficiency and profit margins beyond just targeting a level of production. For example: If I plan to sell my calf crop at weaning and identify a 600 pound weaning weight level of production as my objective. Am I more profitable when achieving this objective from a cowherd with a 1250 pound mature weight, or a 1500 pound average mature weight? Am I more efficient and profitable when achieving this objective from a cowherd averaging a 95% calf crop weaned or an 85% calf crop weaned?

 

Obviously, there is more to the profitability/efficiency equation than production levels alone. This is the point of assessing ALL the components of your production system.

 

The Blueprint For The Future Beef Conference – Part 2 will be held at the Totusek Arena on the OSU campus May 22 and 23, 2024. The conference will feature key industry leaders addressing topics such as gene editing, land stewardship and how they identifying the ERTs of their respective operations. If you have questions about the conference please contact me at mark.johnson@okstate.edu.

 

Registration for the conference can be done at the Cattlemen's Conference website.

 

Mark Johnson, OSU Extension beef cattle breeding specialist, discusses the upcoming Blueprint for the Future Cattleman’s Conference and Rosslyn Biggs, OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, explains why animal stewardship is important to the cattle industry on SunUpTV from April 6, 2024.

 

Biosecurity Approaches to Mitigate Wildlife Disease

Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

 

Biosecurity measures are critical in safeguarding livestock health and productivity by minimizing the risk of infectious diseases. Wildlife populations can harbor a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. For instance, wildlife, such as feral hogs, may carry bacteria such as Leptospira, which can cause leptospirosis in cattle. Skunks and other species are well known for carrying rabies. Recently, migratory waterfowl have been identified as a potential source of avian influenza viruses in non-avian species.

 

In the 2022 Oklahoma State University Cow-Calf Biosecurity Survey, funded by the USDA National Animal Preparedness and Response Program, 50% of producers indicated that wild deer, elk, or antelope were found on their cattle operations. Most producers are likely able to identify multiple forms of wildlife on their operations, and depending on the species, appropriately managed species can be useful in improving environmental balance on the farm or ranch.

 

When considering which practices to implement, disease risk assessments in coordination with a veterinarian should take place, and recognition of the need for biodiversity on the operation must be considered. Basic biosecurity measures can assist producers in limiting disease risks including those posed by wildlife interactions.

 

Operations should select a biosecurity manager. This individual is responsible for developing a biosecurity plan in cooperation with the operation’s veterinarian. Training of the operational team should occur and, the biosecurity manager should stay in tune with any changes involving new disease identification and outbreaks.

 

Monitoring animal health of both domestic and wildlife species is a critical biosecurity practice. Livestock should be monitored on a daily basis and any signs of illness documented. Developing a herd health plan advised by a veterinarian is essential. Any abnormal or unusual signs of illness or death, including those seen in wildlife, should be reported to the operation veterinarian and animal health officials.

 

Managing wildlife populations at appropriate levels can promote both good biosecurity and environmental health as long as disease risk is considered. Consulting with local, state, and federal wildlife entities, such as US Fish & Wildlife, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, and state agriculture/wildlife departments, is advised to fully understand current populations and acceptable legal measures to address wildlife.

 

Physical separation of livestock from wildlife that present disease risks can be challenging, but must be considered. Fences often limit direct contact of livestock with certain wildlife species. Guardian animals can also deter certain wildlife species, especially predators. Managing access to livestock feed and water resources may be necessary. Producers should be careful to not inadvertently create wildlife habitats that promote disease spread. Additionally, care should also be taken to prevent wildlife access to animal disposal locations, as scavengers have the potential to spread unwanted illness. 

 

Protecting livestock health against wildlife-borne diseases requires an everchanging multifaceted approach that combines practical and economically feasible management strategies. By implementing operation specific biosecurity measures tailored to the risks posed by wildlife, producers can mitigate disease transmission, promote animal welfare, and create environmentally sustainable production systems.

 

More information about biosecurity can be found from Beef Quality Assurance and Secure Beef Supply.

 

OSU Extension beef cattle specialist Rosslyn Biggs discusses the importance of practicing safe biosecurity with livestock during the fair season on SunUpTV from 9/25/2021.