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Beef · Reproduction · Fertility

Conception rate

88% PTIC

The percentage of joined heifers and cows that successfully conceive during a defined joining window — your first major scorecard for herd fertility and the nutritional management leading into mating.

Worked example · Cumulative % PTIC by week of joining
Cows 92% 1st-calf 72% Target 94% wk 0 wk 3 wk 6 wk 9
Cumulative % PTIC by week of joining
The benchmark

Well-managed southern herds pregnancy-test 90%+ of joined females in calf; 94% is achievable in mature cows, with maiden heifers the usual drag.

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What it signals

A low rate points to structural problems: poor bull soundness, sub-clinical disease, or inadequate female body condition at joining. Tracking it lets you spot reproductive failures early and turn off empty cows sooner.

Data required to calculate
Total females joinedno.Total females PTICno.

Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses, and keeps the figure current automatically.

How to improve it
01

Ensure heifers reach 60–65% of mature liveweight before bulls are introduced.

02

Manage nutrition so cows are on a rising body condition score at mating.

03

Run Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluations (VBBSE) on every bull before joining.

Questions & answers

What is conception rate?

The percentage of joined heifers and cows that successfully conceive during a defined joining window — your first major scorecard for herd fertility and the nutritional management leading into mating.

What data do you need to calculate conception rate?

You need: Total females joined (no.), Total females PTIC (no.). Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses and keeps the figure current automatically.

What is a good conception rate benchmark?

Well-managed southern herds pregnancy-test 90%+ of joined females in calf; 94% is achievable in mature cows, with maiden heifers the usual drag.

How do you improve conception rate?

Ensure heifers reach 60–65% of mature liveweight before bulls are introduced. Manage nutrition so cows are on a rising body condition score at mating. Run Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluations (VBBSE) on every bull before joining.

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