Life Sciences Commons^™

Grazing Wheat Did Not Reduce Beef Cow Pregnancy Rates, Sandra K. Johnson, Keith R. Harmoney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beef producers can lower feed costs by extending the grazing period and reducing the need for harvested forages. Complementary forage systems extend the native range grazing season; wheat pasture is common in the southern portion of the High Plains. Anecdotal reports have been made concerning lowered fertility in beef cows bred on lush forage such as wheat pasture; however, ruling out other possible causes of low fertility is difficult. In lactating dairy cows, fertility is lower during consumption of high-protein diets that result in high blood urea nitrogen content. Lower uterine pH that in turn affects embryo survival is thought …