Every few years, USDA conducts a national study of U.S. beef cow-calf operations. The study helps provide new and valuable information about animal health and management practices in the industry.
USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) surveyed a total of 4,000 beef cow-calf producers in 24 states in 2017, and part one of the study findings were released in July. The study looks at trends in beef cow-calf health, describes management practices and producer beliefs, and antimicrobial-use (stewardship).
Part One of the report, Beef 2017, is based on the first questionnaire administered and Part Two is based on a second questionnaire, and is expected to be released before the end of 2020.
Study findings
The report has information representing 78.9 percent of cow-calf operations and 86.6 percent of U.S. beef cows. States from all regions of the country are represented in the report, except for the very northeastern portion of the country. The below information is a sample of the study’s findings. The full 245-page report may be viewed at aphis.usda.gov.
• Income
Most operations (81 percent) are a supplemental source of income. As herd size increased, so did the tendency for a primary source of income. A total of 7.5 percent of operations with small herds (1-49 head) reported their operation as a primary source of income; 32 percent of operations with medium herds (50-199 head); and 72 percent of operations with large herds (200 head or more). Producers in the Central region are more likely to have their operation as a primary source of income.
• Calf crop
Overall, nearly all calves (97.7 percent) were born alive on all operations. A higher percentage of calves were born alive to cows (98 percent) than heifers (95 percent). Calves in the West region were more likely to be born alive (98 percent) compared to the Central region (97.5 percent) and East region (97.4 percent).
Most calves (55.6 percent) are born in February through April and marketed in the fall. The Central and West regions calve mostly in spring, while the East region calves mostly in the fall.
Large herds (9 percent) in the West region (14 percent) were more likely to be born with horns compared to the Central region (3.5 percent) and East region (4.5 percent).
Of calves weaned or expected to be weaned in 2017, 47.5 percent were bulls and steers and 52 percent were heifers. The average weaning weight of calves in the East region (521 lbs.) was lower than the average weaning weight of calves in the Central (555 lbs.) and West (553 lbs.) regions.
• Breeding practices
A total of 77 percent of operations described their breeding herd as commercial, 56 percent as seedstock, and 17 percent combination seedstock and commercial.
Large herds (78 percent) are more likely to use breeding technology such as estrus synchronization, artificial insemination (AI), or pregnancy tests compared to small herds (30 percent) and medium herds (53 percent). The Central region is more likely to use breeding technology (58 percent) compared to the West region (37 percent) and East region (22 percent).
Most females (90 percent) will be exposed only to bulls, compared to only using AI (1 percent), using both natural service and AI (7 percent), and bringing on as bred heifers (1 percent).
Overall, 83 percent of heifers and 93.5 percent of cows calved in 2017. Females were more likely to calve in the Central region (95 percent) compared to the West (90 percent) and East (89 percent) regions.
The majority of operations do not have a defined breeding season (58.5 percent). Large herds in the Central region were more likely to have a defined breeding season (67 percent) compared to the West (33.5) and East (30 percent) regions.
Operations are more likely to use a mature bull 2 years old or older (73.5 percent) compared to a yearling bull (6 percent) or both yearling and mature bulls (20 percent).
• Health management
A total of 71 percent of operations give their cows or unweaned calves any sort of injection. A lower amount of operations in the East region (58.5 percent) gave any injections compared to the West (75.5 percent) and Central (79.5) regions.
A total of 8 percent of all operations used a dart gun to administer injections, with the Central region (16 percent) more likely to do so than the West (6 percent) or East (4.5 percent) regions.
In terms of familiarity with disease, producers were most familiar with brucellosis (31.5 percent). Producers were least familiar with vesicular stomatitis and bovine leukosis (59 percent and 58 percent had never heard of the diseases, respectively).
• General management
Most operations use a pond as a source of cattle drinking water (74 percent) compared to tanks (5.5 percent) or streams (50 percent).
Almost all operations (96 percent) expected grazing pasture to make up at least 50 percent of the herd’s complete diet. Only 7.5 percent of operations actually have a grazing management plan.
Most operations (93 percent) graze cattle on their own land, 31 percent graze cattle on leased private land, and only 3 percent graze on state or federal land.
Overall, 63 percent of operations use plastic ear tags. About one-quarter of operations use brucellosis vaccination ear tags (26 percent) or hot-iron brands (26.6 percent) on at least some cows. — Anna Miller, WLJ editor
