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The main goal in a commercial cow-calf operation is to optimize pounds of calf produced per cow as economically as possible. Part of this is a heavy percentage of calves weaned as compared to the number of cows exposed to the bull. There are, of course, a number of things that influence conception rates – many of which we can manage to our advantage.

Nutrition, both before and after calving, has an effect on pregnancy rates. Nutrition that leads to thin cows at calving, results in delays in the onset of estrual activity after calving. Level of energy fed after calving will influence...