The Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast: Hair Shedding the Secret to Higher Weaning Weights and Conception Rates

Hair Shedding the Secret to Higher Weaning Weights and Conception Rates

Hair shedding research in beef cattle is adding another tool to ranchers’ toolbox as they prepare to not just build back their herd – but build it back better. Using genetic selection to mitigate heat stress is right by the animal and the rancher.

“No one wants to be building fence in July wearing a Carhartt coat,” says Jamie Courter. “So, if we can select or better understand how cattle shed that winter coat going from winter into summer, then maybe we can help mitigate some of that summer heat stress.”

Courter is an assistant professor and genetics extension specialist here at the University of Missouri who takes special interest in continuing the hair shedding research of her role’s predecessor, Dr. Jared Decker.

The benefits of hair shedding start by reducing heat stress which then impacts both pregnancy rates and weaning weights.

“Cows that are heat stressed are less likely to become pregnant, because they're under that stress,” explains Courter.

Added stress can also impact milk production, which in turn impacts weaning weights – a very economically relevant trait for cow-calf producers....



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