WVU Extension Service Veterinary Sciences Specialist Designing a
herd health program for the cow-calf ranch requires setting
comprehensive goals. Designing a program that prevents only
death and sickness is shortsighted and will not maximize herd
profitability. This report will provide goals and strategies for
a comprehensive herd health program. Four main goals of the herd
health program are common to all ranches. A list of strategies
for reaching these goals is presented. It is up to the rancher
and his veterinarian to pick and choose which strategies to use
and to assign a herd calendar to implement those strategies. 1.
The first goal is to have optimum reproductive performance. A
realistic goal is to have 90 percent or greater of all cows give
birth to a live calf. What strategies can be utilized to reach
this goal? To achieve maximum live births, maximize the number
of cows and heifers that get pregnant within the defined
breeding period. The most important management tool to optimize
pregnancy is proper