Maximising calving rates: insights from a commercial beef producer

Dwayne Kaschula, a commercial mixed-farming producer in Maclear, Eastern Cape, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about strategies to increase calving rates in beef herds. This feature explores nutrition, herd health, genetics, record-keeping, stress management, reproductive technology, and practical farm strategies to optimise reproductive performance in South African beef herds.

-  Octavia Avesca Spandiel

Calving season is a critical period on any beef farm. It determines herd productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Successful calving rates reflect careful planning, meticulous management, and proactive disease control. Commercial mixed-farming producer Dwayne Kaschula of Maclear, Eastern Cape, says every detail matters when it comes to ensuring that cows conceive, carry, and raise healthy calves.

“Calving rates are impacted mainly by sexually transmitted diseases like trichomoniasis, contagious abortion, and vibriosis. Sometimes farmers don’t even realise their cattle have these diseases. They continue managing their herds as usual, and as a result, they perform far below potential,” says Kaschula.

These diseases quietly suppress fertility, reducing conception rates and calf survival over multiple seasons. Kaschula mentions that detection and management are essential.

“Herd health, fertility, nutrition, and disease management are all integral parts of a successful beef operation. You have to tick all these boxes,” he says.

UNDERSTANDING FERTILITY CHALLENGES

Fertility is influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, environmental conditions, nutrition, disease, and management practices.

Kaschula identifies the sexually transmitted infections as a primary concern. “Diseases like trichomoniasis, contagious abortion and vibriosis quietly suppress fertility. If you don’t detect them, you risk low conception rates for years,” he warns.

Beyond disease, management practices can directly impact reproductive performance. Farmers who lack consistent monitoring of their herd’s reproductive performance may fail to identify underperforming animals or emerging disease outbreaks.