Natural calves

"Natural" calves refer to those conceived naturally by introducing a bull into our herd of cows.

Naturally conceived calves:

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As part of a collaborative initiative between studs, Oswald Brangus loaned bulls from another stud. According to the agreement, these bulls will mature within and around our herd while breeding our cows. They have contributed to enhancing the genetic value of our herd by producing calves naturally, rather than through artificial insemination. This practice was more prominent from 2020 to 2022. Starting in 2023, we began splitting calf conception between natural breeding and artificial insemination, on a varying ratio.

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Advantages & disadvantages:

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Over the years, we have observed both advantages and disadvantages to naturally conceived calves. One of the most notable benefits is that the bulls are always with the herd. It is often humorously remarked that the bulls even work at night. Having a bull with the cows at all times is highly advantageous, as bulls are naturally inclined to breed cows during their optimal conception window, or at the very least, are present throughout the day when heat indications are observed.

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Another advantage is the reduced need for close oversight. When a bull is placed with your herd, there is no constant need to monitor heat indicators closely. While it is still important to stay informed about the cows’ cycles, the responsibility of keeping track of heat cycles largely falls on the bull. However, it remains essential to record breeding activity when it is observed within the herd.

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One disadvantage of this method is the limited genetic diversity. While it is possible to divide the main herd into multiple groups with different bulls, the logistics of doing so become increasingly complex. This would require separate grazing options and additional facilities to accommodate multiple groups of cows and bulls. Given our limited space and capacity, we have found it more efficient to have just one bull with the main herd at a time. This approach, however, slows the rate at which genetic progress and diversity are enhanced within our herd.