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Beef · Reproduction · Health

Cow mortality

1.6% annual

Breeding females that die on farm each year, as a share of the herd. Every loss is a missing calf, a missing cull sale and an extra replacement to grow out.

Worked example · Breeder deaths % of herd · 4 yrs
Target 2% 2.8 2.4 2.0 1.6 2023 2024 2025 2026
Breeder deaths % of herd · 4 yrs
The benchmark

Well-run temperate breeding herds hold annual breeder mortality below 2%; losses cluster around calving and the late-winter feed trough.

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What it signals

Deaths cluster around calving — especially in first-calvers — and in late-winter feed troughs. A rising trend flags dystocia, condition loss or disease well before it shows up in the calving percentage.

Data required to calculate
Breeder deaths by causeno.Average breeders carriedno.

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

How to improve it
01

Supervise calving heifers and intervene early on difficult births.

02

Hold pre-calving body condition with a winter feed budget.

03

Keep clostridial vaccination and parasite programs current.

Questions & answers

What is cow mortality?

Breeding females that die on farm each year, as a share of the herd. Every loss is a missing calf, a missing cull sale and an extra replacement to grow out.

What data do you need to calculate cow mortality?

You need: Breeder deaths by cause (no.), Average breeders carried (no.). Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses and keeps the figure current automatically.

What is a good cow mortality benchmark?

Well-run temperate breeding herds hold annual breeder mortality below 2%; losses cluster around calving and the late-winter feed trough.

How do you improve cow mortality?

Supervise calving heifers and intervene early on difficult births. Hold pre-calving body condition with a winter feed budget. Keep clostridial vaccination and parasite programs current.

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