Every open cow costs money.
Whether you run commercial cows, seedstock cattle or show heifers, maximizing conception rates during breeding season directly impacts profitability. Nutrition, body condition, mineral intake, herd health and heat stress all influence whether cows settle early and stay bred.
One of the most overlooked tools for reproductive success is mineral supplementation. The best mineral for cattle breeding success is a supplement like VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®, which should be fed 60 days before calving through 60 days after breeding to improve conception rates.
“VitaFerm Concept•Aid is a product that is engineered with intentionality,” said Chris Cassady, Ph.D., Director of Technical Sales and Research for BioZyme® Inc. “Technologies, like vitamins and minerals along with our research-proven prebiotic Amaferm, are married together to help producers remove all the challenging variables and turn them into positive, constant results.”
When cows enter breeding season in the right nutritional plane, producers can improve breed-back success, tighten calving intervals and raise a more uniform calf crop. That’s worth the investment in proper nutrition.
Why Conception Rates Matter in a Cow-Calf Operation
Profit in the cow herd begins with reproductive success. If your cows don’t get bred, you’re not going to have calves to market. And feeding an open cow is just not much fun or economically feasible. However, reproductive success is not guaranteed. Several factors go into getting cows bred and keeping them bred. One of those factors is a sound nutrition program.
With today’s calf prices, and even the prices of a cull cow, you can’t afford to have cows that don’t breed on your operation. The more cows you have bred, the more calves you have to market via our partners at LiveAg.
Now, we know that it takes two to tango, so if you are not using an advanced reproductive technology like A.I. or E.T., be sure to have a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) conducted on your bull battery before turnout. Low conception rates should not be the result of infertile bulls or poor nutrition. If possible, be sure to check them at least 60 days before turning them out.
Nutrition is the Foundation of Breeding Success
Reproduction and nutrition work synergistically within every herd. Nutrition is the foundation of your breeding success. A nutritional deficit often leads to delayed puberty in heifers, reduced conception rates, increased embryonic loss and weaker calves at birth. At VitaFerm, we specialize in nutritional supplements for beef cattle that maximize energy and forage utilization for successful production.
You will want to ensure your cows are in ideal body condition score when preparing for breeding season. According to Cassady, a body condition score of 5 is ideal as you set up your females for breeding.
Cassady, also a life-long seedstock producer, said that maintenance requirements for energy and protein increase 25-30% post-calving. If you have some cows with a BCS of 5 or less, you should consider managing them separately. By increasing their energy intake, thinner cows may see a boost in reproductive performance.
“Thin cows happen to all of us, but don’t panic. Research has shown that cattle gaining weight heading into the breeding season have just as good of a chance of breeding successfully as their adequately fleshed herd mates. Getting the most out of your forages and supplementing with a quality vitamin and mineral program can give these females the nutritional boost they need to breed successfully,” Cassady said.
If you are wondering what to feed cows, check out this handy planner that takes you through the reproductive phases of the herd.
Strategies for Maximizing Conception Rates During Breeding Season
For Heifers
- Provide a balanced diet rich in energy and protein to reach puberty by 12-14 months.
- Remember, these young bovine are still developing themselves and soon, will be growing a calf inside them. Heifers should reach puberty by 12–14 months to allow for breeding by 14–15 months and calving at 24 months.
- Aim for a target weight of 60-65% of mature body weight at first breeding
For Lactating & Pregnant Cows
- Support lactation with adequate forage and supplementary grains or minerals
- In late gestation, increase energy and protein to support fetal growth
To Support Bulls
- Keep bulls in good condition without overfeeding
- Keeping bulls fertile during summer heat requires shade, adequate hydration and VitaFerm mineral with the HEAT® technology.
- Provide trace minerals like selenium, zinc and vitamin E to boost fertility
Water Access
- Provide clean, fresh water at all times—dehydration impacts fertility and milk production
Pasture Management
- Rotate pastures to prevent overgrazing and support forage regrowth
- Test soil and adjust fertilization to optimize grass nutrient value
Supplementation
- Provide a VitaFerm vitamin and mineral supplement, powered by AO-Biotics® Amaferm®
- Amaferm is a research-proven prebiotic that enhances the digestibility of feedstuffs and forages, ensuring your herd gets the most of what they are consuming.
What is the Best Mineral for Cattle Breeding Success?
The best mineral for cattle breeding success is a highly proven mineral designed to support reproductive performance before, during and after breeding season. Look no further than the VitaFerm line.
Amaferm Makes the Difference
At BioZyme, we have developed the VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® line of products to promote effective, easy breeding when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding.
Regardless of your management style or operation size, there is a Concept•Aid product for you. All Concept•Aid products are powered by AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility.
They also contain organic copper, iodine, and zinc for maximum bioavailability, innate immunity, and hoof health. Additionally, high levels of Vitamin E support reproductive tract repair and milk quality. Think outside the norm when it comes to nutrition and management of your females.
“Developing a healthy digestive system early in a female’s life will help them better utilize feeds and supplements. More than that, though it can set them up for fewer health challenges in their lifetime. Premium genetics require premium nutrition. Sure, you can kick the cost can down the road by skimping on nutrition. But don’t be surprised if the bill comes due with higher vet bills and less marketable calves in the following years,” Cassady said.
VitaFerm Offers Choices
Although Concept•Aid is BioZyme’s oldest and flagship product, in recent years BioZyme has added two other dependable product lines to the VitaFerm Brand. VitaFerm® ONE and and VitaFerm ReproMaxx offer producers multiple formulas of vitamin and mineral supplements to tailor to the needs of each cattle breeding program. ONE provides one solution to conveniently and consistently promote cattle health and performance in all seasons. And ReproMaxx provides high vitamin and mineral fortification and research-proven components to take reproductive success to the MAXX. Both contain Amaferm.
Besides the original ONE, Concept•Aid and ReproMaxx formulas that include Amaferm, organic copper, iodine, zine and high levels of Vitamin E, each line offers various formulas to solve the following challenges:
- HEAT technology for females experiencing gestation during the summer or heat stress in general
- CTC in regions where anaplasmosis in cattle is a concern
- ClariFly and garlic when flies are a concern
- Magnesium for grass tetany
- Added protein and phosphorus for areas with low-quality forages
Learn more about the full suite of VitaFerm products today. If you wonder which product would be best suited for your cattle breeding program, try the Concept•Aid Product Navigator.
Feed Minerals Before Breeding Season Starts
Just because we are discussing breeding season nutrition, doesn’t mean you need to start your mineral supplementation program the day you turn your bulls out. At BioZyme, we know that healthy animals simply perform better. That’s why we recommend feeding the VitaFerm line 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding. You’re not only making an impact on her breeding success, but her last trimester – fetal development and long-term performance of her calf in utero – and the way she will calve, lactate and breed back sooner.
Fetal Development
While the fetus is continually growing in size throughout the gestation, more than 75% of its total weight gain and growth happens in the last trimester of gestation.
Research has proven that proper nutrition, including a supplement like VitaFerm, of the fetus during pregnancy has profound impacts on feedlot performance and has a positive influence on overall health and immunity of the calf.
“All nutrients play a pivotal role in fetal growth and development, but it’s a matter of providing enough of the ‘right’ ones at the ‘right’ time. Energy and protein are the most common considerations when assessing a nutrition program during gestation as they are usually the most limiting nutrients. However, never take a good vitamin and mineral program for granted,” Cassady said.
A cow’s nutrient requirements in early gestation aren’t terribly different than her daily maintenance requirements, but as fetal growth increases so does the rest of her nutritional needs. During this time, you aren’t just feeding the cow, you are also feeding her growing and developing calf.
“Once a cow enters lactation, she will need much higher levels of protein and energy. If her feeding program isn’t meeting her needs, she will begin to pull condition off her back to continue providing for her calf, and her performance will begin to lag,” Cassady cautions.
Fetal development in beef cattle isn’t only about growing a healthy calf at birth and making sure your cows stay in ideal body condition. Research shows that those cows supplemented with extra protein in the third trimester weaned off heavier muscled male offspring. The same calves also posted heavier weaning weights and adjusted 205-day weights. The female calves, also out of cows who had been fortified with additional protein, also reached puberty earlier, meaning they could breed earlier. These females started their return on investment faster than females out of cows that did not receive extra protein.
Managing Heat Stress During Breeding Season
With a majority of breeding season happening in May and June, heat stress on the fresh-bred mamas becomes a big concern. However, with Amaferm in the diet, increasing digestibility, their internal thermostat is already at work. Add in the VitaFerm products with HEAT technology, and heat stress worries can begin to mitigate.
What are some challenges of heat stress?
Anytime the temperatures get above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, livestock producers need to worry about heat stress, especially when humidity is involved. Here are some heat stress challenges:
- Reduced Feed Intake
- Decreased Conception Rates
- Bull Fertility
- Hydration
VitaFerm Offers HEAT® Technology
In addition to benefits that Amaferm offers with overall health and digestion in helping alleviate heat stress, cattle also benefit from HEAT technology found in many VitaFerm products.
HEAT® technology combines essential oils and garlic to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge. HEAT provides capsaicin to help maintain circulation and support animal performance in both heat and fescue situations. Capsaicin and Amaferm are both research-proven to help maintain body temperature. HEAT also contains garlic to help deter insects. Keeping insects controlled is important to heat stress because insects like to gather on animals when they bunch up. Insect bites cause added stress and economic losses.
A lower body temperature has several key benefits. It helps get the females in the herd bred and keeps them bred. It helps keep those animals out grazing, which means the potential for gaining is greater, even in warmer climates.
HEAT Products
Products with HEAT technology are tailored to specific production phases that should be used for anytime temperatures that reach hotter than 70 degrees. These include:
VitaFerm® ReproMaxx® HEAT®, a premium free-choice vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle designed to maximize reproductive success when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit or when cattle are grazing fescue. Includes research proven levels of Zinpro organic trace minerals.
VitaFerm Concept•Aid® 5/S HEAT, a premium free-choice 5% phosphorus vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle designed to support reproductive success. Use when temperatures are above 70 degrees or when cattle are grazing fescue.
VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT with ClariFly®, a premium free-choice 5% phosphorus vitamin and mineral supplement with ClariFly for beef cattle. It is designed to be fed when temperatures are above 70 degrees or when cattle are grazing fescue to support reproductive success.
VitaFerm HEAT Stress Tub, a tub for cattle designed to support digestive health and intake when temperatures are above 70 degrees. Formerly known as Vita Charge HEAT Stress Tub.
VitaFerm® ONE HEAT®, a free choice vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle designed to promote cattle performance when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit or when cattle are grazing fescue.
VitaFerm® ONE HEAT® with Clarifly®, a free choice vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle with ClariFly® designed to promote cattle performance when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit or when cattle are grazing fescue.
VitaFerm® ONE HEAT® CTC 3G with ClariFly®, a free choice vitamin and mineral supplement with Clarifly® and CTC for beef cattle designed to promote cattle performance when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit or when cattle are grazing fescue.
VitaFerm® ONE HEAT® Mineral Tub, a free choice vitamin and mineral supplement for beef cattle in a cooked tub designed to promote cattle performance year-round.
Breeding Season Tips to Improve Conception Rates
As breeding season nears, here are a few reminders to improve conception rates this breeding season.
- Maintain BCS 5-6 in your herd. Skinny and obese females are both hard to breed.
- Vaccinate before breeding. A good health program is paramount.
- Perform breeding soundness exams prior to bull turnout.
- Use high-quality mineral like VitaFerm year-round
- Manage flies and parasites. An integrated system like mineral and a spray or tags is the best approach.
- Ensure clean, fresh water access. Always.
- Reduce heat stress. Avoid working in the heat of the day, provide shade.
Some Final Thoughts on Breeding Season Nutrition
We know that everyone learns differently, so we put together a little list of FAQs for you to take with you about breeding season nutrition.
- What is the best mineral for cattle breeding success?
A: The best mineral for cattle breeding success is one from the VitaFerm line, powered by Amaferm.
- When should cows start receiving breeding minerals?
A: Start feeding VitaFerm 60 days pre-calving through 60 days-post breeding for best results.
- How does body condition affect conception rates?
A: Ideally, a female with BCS 5-6 is the easiest to breed because of her condition – not too skinny, not too obese, but in a healthy plane of nutrition.
- What minerals improve cattle fertility?
A: The organic trace minerals of organic copper, zinc, manganese, along with Vitamin E and phosphorus help improve bovine reproduction.
- Where can I get VitaFerm mineral?
A: Uses the dealer locator at VitaFerm.com to find a dealer near you to get your VitaFerm mineral today.