Hair Shedding the Secret to Higher Weaning Weights and Conception Rates

Hair shedding research in beef cattle is adding another tool to ranchers’ toolbox as they prepare to not just build back their herd – but build it back better. Using genetic selection to mitigate heat stress is right by the animal and the rancher.  

“No one wants to be building fence in July wearing a Carhartt coat,” says Jamie Courter. “So, if we can select or better understand how cattle shed that winter coat going from winter into summer, then maybe we can help mitigate some of that summer heat stress.” 

Courter is an assistant professor and genetics extension specialist here at the University of Missouri who takes special interest in continuing the hair shedding research of her role’s predecessor, Dr. Jared Decker.  

The benefits of hair shedding start by reducing heat stress which then impacts both pregnancy rates and weaning weights. 

“Cows that are heat stressed are less likely to become pregnant, because they're under that stress,” explains Courter. 

Added stress can also impact milk production, which in turn impacts weaning weights – a very economically relevant trait for cow-calf producers.  

Courter shares, “Cows that had a hair shed score of one weaned a calf that weighed forty-five pounds more at weaning than one with a hair shed score of five.” 

Forty-five pounds per calf can make a huge difference in the bottom-line of operation, especially with current market prices.  

Outside of improved pregnancy rates and weaning weights, hair shedding shows which cattle are more capable of adapting to their environment. Research is indicating that cattle shed their coats in response to changes in daylight as opposed to changes in temperature.  

She says, “It’s indicative of how cattle can adapt and respond to their environment, which is an economically relevant trait no matter where you are located.” 

Hair Shedding Scores 

Hair shedding is scored using a scale of one to five. One is a completely slicked off animal, while 5 represents a full winter coat. Hair shedding starts at the neck, moves to the topline then down the sides and the belly is last.  

This system is designed to be simple, but it’s imperative that the same person takes the scores and takes them in a timely fashion. 

“Do them all as on the same day or as close to the same day as you can,” says Courter. “Because it's not fair to go out and do this in one pasture and then go out two weeks later and do it in another.” 

There are some caveats to this timeline. Courter encourages ranchers to score bulls two weeks before scoring cows and to give cattle at least one full photo period before scoring them for the most accurate results – especially for fall-born calves. 

“What we've noticed is they're born in the fall. They go through winter, spring, and that first summer and it's a condensed period of time before their first shed,” shares Courter. “I actually am not confident that that first summer shedding event is indicative of their future shedding ability.” 

How to Use Hair Shedding Scores 

When using hair shedding as a selection tool, don’t compare yearlings and first-calf heifers to mature cows. Yearlings and first-calf heifers should be scored against their contemporary groups because, the added energy requirements of these two groups creates different shedding outcomes.  

She says, “What you will notice is that your yearling heifers and especially your first calf heifers and those younger cows are going to have higher scores than your older cows.” 

How much emphasis ranchers place on hair shedding largely depends on individual goals and their environment.  

“Hair shedding is a preemptive selection tool to create better genetic merit within your cattle for all of these other traits that that are either directly or indirectly impacted by hair shedding,” says Courter. 

Ranchers can begin to use it like they would udder scoring, foot and leg scoring and even disposition.  

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.