Udders quality are criteria to cull cows

Each year at “preg” checking time, farmers evaluate cows and make decisions as which to remove from the herd. One criteria that should be examined to cull cows is udder quality.

Beef cattle producers are not as likely to think about udder health and shape as are dairy producers, but this attribute affects cow productivity and should be considered. It may be easier to be accurate in your culling decisions if you exam the udder soundness of the cows shortly after calving when they are at the peak of lactation and the udder is as large as at any time.

Two studies have indicated that the occurrence of clinical mastitis in the beef cows herds were 17.5 percent and 11.9 percent. These caused reduced weaning weights of 12.5 percent and 7.3 percent respectively. The researchers noted an economic loss of $31.43 per calf (with much lower than today’s calf prices) because of the occurrence of mastitis in the dam. The presence of the organisms does not necessarily mean the cow has clinical mastitis and her milk production will suffer. It is known that the incidence of dry quarters increases with cow age.

An experiment conducted recently at the Range Cow Research Center near Stillwater gives some indication as to the impact of mastitis on beef cow performance. The Oklahoma State University scientists found that cows with one or two dry quarters had calves with severely reduced weaning weights (50 to 60 pounds) compared to cows with no dry quarters. Treatment of cows at the previous weaning and/or calving with long-acting oxytetracycline did not influence calf weaning weight.

The heritability estimates of udder characteristics are variable. Beef improvement Federation Guidelines have suggested the heritability of udder soundness in beef cattle is estimated at .16 to .22, which means some progress can be made by selecting against unsound udders. One thing to look for is a very “funnel” -shaped teat, which may have been mastitic in the past. Newborn calves will find it difficult to nurse such a teat. These cows may need to be culled.