Oklahoma Cow-Calf Management Practices:Breeding Program
Results from the assessment distributed with Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manuals
How of ten are Expected Progeny Diff erences
used as a tool in bull selection?
37.1
10 10.48.7
3.65.2
25
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
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esp
onse
s
What is your breeding season?
44.6
9.2
25.6
20.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Bulls kept withCows year-round
Fall Calving Spring Calving Spring & Fall
Perc
enta
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esp
onse
s
I f you have a f all breeding season, how long do
you leave the bull with cows?
27.9
55.3
16.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
60 days or less 60-90 days 90-120 days
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
I f you have a spring breeding season, how long
do you leave the bull with cows?
22
54
27.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
60 days or less 60-90 days 90-120 days
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Pregnancy examinations are perf ormed on
owned mature cows?
20
6.5 7.8 6.4 7.3 7.8
44.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Pregnancy examinations are perf ormed on
raised replacement heif ers?
30.8
8.5 7.45.3
3.8 4.6
39.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Pregnancy examinations are perf ormed on
purchased heif ers and/ or cows?
43.9
9.1
3.8 3.2 3 4.6
32.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Breeding soundness evaluations are perf ormed
on mature bulls (2 years old & older)?
31.3
9.36.8 8.1
5.2 5
34.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Breeding soundness evaluations are perf ormed
on young bulls (<2 years old)?
42.5
9.15.9 5
2.8 4
30.8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of heif ers are easy pull?
92.8
4.90.3 2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of heif ers are hard pull?
97.7
2 0.3 00
20
40
60
80
100
120
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of heif ers are assisted by a
Caesarean section?
100
0 0 00
20
40
60
80
100
120
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of heif ers need no assistance
while calving?
4.2 2.710.1
83
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of cows are easy pull?
97.9
0.3 0.2 1.60
20
40
60
80
100
120
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of cows are hard pull?
99.7
0.3 0 00
20
40
60
80
100
120
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of cows are assisted by a
Caesarean section?
100
0 0 00
20
40
60
80
100
120
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What percentage of cows need no assistance
while calving?
2.1 0.3 0.8
96.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76% +
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What is the average purchase price you
normally pay f or breeding bulls
on commercial cows?
0.1
0.7
0.2
00
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
$0-$1000 $1001-$2000 $2001-3000 >$3000
Perc
enta
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onse
s
What is the predominant breed of bulls used in
your operation?
55.2
17.8
10.8
4.6
11.6
0 0 0 0 00
10
20
30
40
50
60
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
What is the predominant breed of cows used in
your operation?
51.3
11.8 13.2
2.6
21.1
0 0 0 0 0 00
10
20
30
40
50
60
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most breeding bulls?
Raise my own
13.4
4.37.3 8.4
6.18.9
51.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most breeding bulls?
Neighbor
19.3
9.87.9 8.1
4.3 3.8
46.9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most breeding bulls?
Stockyards
2.9 2.1 2.9 4.3 2.46.4
79.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most breeding bulls?
Bull test station sales
10.36.8
3.6 5.2 3.6 5.5
64.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most breeding bulls?
Purebred breeder sales
44.5
15
6.6 5.42.7 3.8
22.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most replacement
heif ers? Raise my own
63.6
13.2
7.2 4.92.4 1
7.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most replacement
heif ers? Purchase f rom another source with a
known history
25
14.5
8.9
14
5.2 5.2
27.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Where do you obtain most replacement
heif ers? Purchase f rom another source with an
unknown history
5.3 2.9 3.28.6
2.98
69.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Nearly always, 7 = Rarely if ever
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Commercial breeding program description:
Bull is same breed as commercial cow herd.
61.6
38.4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Yes No
Perc
enta
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s
Commercial breeding program description:
rotational cross
49.4
50.6
48.8
49
49.2
49.4
49.6
49.8
50
50.2
50.4
50.6
50.8
Yes No
Perc
enta
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f R
esp
onse
s
Commercial breeding program description:
terminal cross (2 breeds
and do not keep heif ers)
21.7
78.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Yes No
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Commercial breeding program description:
use composite bulls
20.4
79.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Yes No
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: growth
61.5
20.6
10.75.3
0.9 0.3 0.70
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: reproduction
68.6
17
7.24.1
1.3 0.9 0.90
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: carcass weight
30.5
18.8 18.4 17.9
6.4
3.24.8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: marbling
21.3
14.8
18.219.7
10
6.9
9.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: external f at
16.3
11.9
19.4
25
10.8
7.78.9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: muscling
37.1
27
16.3
11.2
4.51.5 2.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: weaning weight
51.6
24
13.9
4.1 2.4 1.5 2.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: convenience (good
disposition, polled, etc.)
57.5
19.8
13.2
5.31.9 1.2 1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to bull
selection decisions: eye appeal or physical
appearance
49
26
12.8
6.92.4 1.3 1.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions: growth
56.6
22.2
13.5
4.61 0.9 1.2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions:
reproduction
78.8
13.1
3.7 1.9 0.9 0.2 1.50
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions:
carcass weight
22.8
15.8
22.7
30.2
6.64.8
7
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions:
marbling
17.1
12.6
21
18.8
11.5
8.710.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions:
external f at
14.215.9
20.8 21.3
11.7
6.2
9.9
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions:
muscling
25.223.9 23.2
16.5
5.23.1 3.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions:
weaning weight
46.3
25.5
13.6
8.3
3.90.9
2.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to replacement
f emale selection decisions: convenience (good
disposition, good udder history, polled, etc.)
70.5
17.7
6.83.1
0.4 0.7 0.70
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s
Rate the trait based on relevance to
replacement f emale selection decisions: eye
appeal or physical appearance
53
24.7
11.46.1
1.9 1.3 1.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 = Extremely Important, 7 = Extremely Unimportant
Perc
enta
ge o
f R
esp
onse
s