Why Fall Preg-Checks Matter

• Economic benefit: Pregnancy checks help identify open cows, allowing you to cull them early and reduce the cost of feeding non-productive animals through winter.
  • Cost is an economic benefit because identifying and culling open cows can save you thousands—think an estimated $2,000 saved vs. an estimated $500 cost for the check on a 100-cow herd, because you avoid year-round maintenance on non-performing animals.
  • Why is using a veterinarian an economic benefit?
    • Veterinarians are trained not only to identify open cows, but are also trained to catch problems such as uterine infections, ovarian issues, and cancers.
    • By spotting these problems early, you avoid the cost of keeping cows that won’t breed back, and you can make smarter management decisions to protect your herd’s productivity and save you money!
• Better management: Knowing which cows are bred—and their expected calving dates—enables you to sort herds, tailor nutrition, and prepare facilities accordingly.
• Timing is key: Early detection (30–90 days post-breeding) promotes timely decisions. Ultrasound allows pregnancy detection as early as 28 days post-breeding; palpation at around 35–50 days.

  Ultrasound: as early as ~28 days post-breeding

  Palpation: ~35–50 days post-breeding

  Optimal window: 30–90 days for management decisions

Why Fall Vaccinations Matter

• Boost cow & calf immunity: Vaccinating pregnant cows in the fall helps strengthen their colostrum, passing vital protection to newborn calves—especially against scours like rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli.
• Prevent reproductive disease: Typical fall protocols include vaccines for IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, leptospirosis, vibriosis, and clostridial diseases.
  

  “For pregnant cows, we recommend using killed (inactivated) vaccines, unless your herd has been on a modified-live program and the product label says it’s safe for bred cows. This helps protect both the cow and her calf.”

• Convenience and timing: The fall gathering of cows for pregnancy checks makes it efficient to handle both tasks at once.

What You Should Do

1. Schedule your appointment for pregnancy checks and body condition scoring.
2. Review your herd’s vaccination history with us, then plan fall boosters, especially for reproductive and scours protection.
3. Discuss method options (ultrasound vs. palpation vs. bloodwork) and choose what suits your operation best.
4. Sort and manage open cows early—either cull or re-breed them efficiently.
5. Stay proactive with herd health planning to optimize performance and protect your bottom line.