Life Sciences Commons^™

G94-1197 The Genetics And Management Of Sound Feet And Legs, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Sound management of feet and legs in dairy animals affects performance. This guide offers suggestions for good management practices.

Two major parameters affect the selection process for any trait: the heritability of the trait as well as the variation associated with the trait.

G89-926 Swine Reproductive Problems: Infectious Causes, Alex Hogg, Donald G. Levis

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes causes, clinical signs, control, prevention and treatment of swine reproductive problems due to infectious diseases. The reproductive potential for the ideal sow has been calculated as 31.2 pigs weaned per year. The United States average is 14 pigs per sow per year--less than one-half the reproductive potential of the ideal sow. A major part of this low reproductive efficiency is due to either infectious or non-infectious causes. The infectious causes of swine reproductive problems are addressed here.

G89-989 How To Interpret The New Animal Model For Dairy Sire Evaluation, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In question and answer format this NebGuide addresses changes in genetic evaluations of both dairy cows and sores.

Why is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) changing the dairy sire and cow evaluation system?

The answer is simple. The Animal Model for genetic evaluations is more accurate than the old Modified Contemporary Comparison Method (M.C.C.). Previously the major limiting factors to implementing the Animal Model were computing costs and memory requirements. With the advent of new Super Computers, the computations are feasible on a national scale.

What is the Animal Model?

The Animal Model simultaneously evaluates cows and sires …

G88-879 Peafowl, Earl W. Gleaves

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the care and feeding of the colorful and ornamental peafowl.

The peafowl is an ornamental bird which is often grown to adorn farmsteads, private estates or public parks and zoological gardens. They enjoy living in the open and prefer to roost in trees. The roosting place should be arranged some distance from dwellings because peafowl are inclined to be noisy, especially at night.

G87-851 Improving Reproductive Performance And Productivity Of Beef Herds, Gene H. Deutscher

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

NebGuide discusses management practices that can be used to improve reproduction and productivity of beef herds. The major objective of cow-calf producers should be to wean a calf from each cow every year. The average calf crop weaned in Nebraska is estimated at 80 calves weaned per 100 cows in breeding herds. A realistic goal is 90 to 95 calves weaned per 100 cows.

G86-820 How To Maximize Income By Managing Days Dry, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This guide discusses the benefits of maintaining the optimum calving interval and offers suggestions for accomplishing this reproductive management technique.

Most dairy producers are aware that an optimum calving interval is 365 days. This is a normal lactation length of 305 days with a dry period of 60 days. This interval is often looked at as a goal to strive toward rather than a goal that must be reached to maximize income from the sale of milk.

G86-822 How To Estimate A Dairy Herd's Reproductive Losses, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Remedies for herd losses caused by calving interval, dry periods, A.I. performance, and age at first freshening.

One of the major areas of lost income to the dairy producer is in the reproductive performance of the dairy herd. These losses are often overlooked because they are indirect costs. If producers could be given a monthly bill indicating the amount of money that improper reproductive management has cost them, then drastic changes would occur.

The majority of reproductive losses occur in the following areas:

1. Calving interval too long or too short.

2. Dry period too long or too short.

3. …

G85-759 Prominent Congenital Defects In Nebraska Beef Cattle, J. L. Johnson, H. W. Leipold, Donald B. Hudson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes congenital defects that affect the economic value of beef cattle, and provides recommendations on how to minimize them in breeding programs.

Congenital defects are abnormalities of structure or function present at birth. They may be caused by genetic or environmental factors, or a combination of both. The causes of many defects remain unknown.

Developmental defects may be lethal, semi-lethal, or compatible with life, causing very little effect or only aesthetic effect.

With the increasing use of artificial insemination (AI) in cattle, defects are no longer rare occurrences and are important collectively to the cattle industry. Congenital defects …

G85-755 How To Set Goals For Your Breeding Program, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes how to determine which trait(s) to select for, and how multiple trait selection affects genetic progress.

Dairy producers are often concerned with placing emphasis on different production traits in their breeding program. Selecting on only economically important traits should be the objective of every producer. The use of artificial insemination (A.I.) sires is the most economical and productive way to increase the genetic potential of the herd.

A cow's record is a measure of her genetic potential, which is modified by the environment in which she is kept. Environmental factors that directly influence a cow's record include …

G81-574 Reproductive Diseases In Cattle, Duane Rice

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The reproductive diseases mentioned in this NebGuide comprise some of the more common problems confronting the cattle industry today.

Although many advances have been made in controlling reproductive diseases in cattle, serious losses are still common. These losses can be reduced by recognizing the diseases and following the proper management recommendations that are available today. Nearly 50 percent of reproductive failure in cattle is due to infectious diseases, and there are vaccines available that can prevent some of these. Management recommendations may include: 1) vaccines, 2) general sanitation, 3) artificial insemination (AI) or, if a problem is already present, 4) …

G80-537 Reproductive Trace Anatomy And Physiology Of The Cow, Gene H. Deutscher

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Knowledge of basic reproduction will help a producer to obtain higher conception rates when using estrous synchronization and/or artificial insemination. The reproductive performance of a cow herd has a great influence on the income and profit realized. A good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the cow's reproductive system is, therefore, beneficial for successful management. Knowledge of basic reproduction will help a producer to obtain higher conception rates when using estrous synchronization and/or artificial insemination. It will also allow for a better understanding of pregnancy examinations, reproductive diseases and calving difficulty problems.

G80-536 Reproductive Trace Anatomy And Physiology Of The Bull, Gene H. Deutscher

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the bull's reproductive tract is beneficial for proper management. Good reproductive performance of a bull is necessary to obtain a high percent calf crop. A bull must be fertile and capable of servicing a large number of cows during a short breeding season for optimum production. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the bull's reproductive tract is beneficial for proper management. A basic knowledge of the reproductive system will also help the producer to understand fertility examinations, reproductive problems and breeding impairments.