for The Fence. Post A high priority for most cow/calf producers is having a high pregnancy rate. So, if the number of pregnant cows disappointingly drops far below expectations, there are important considerations in advance of the next breeding season for cows and bulls. Two prominent beef specialists at Kansas State University recently provided detailed recommendations in an article they wrote called ‘’Troubleshooting Poor Reproductive Performance in Cows.“ Nutrition is at the top of the list for heifers and cows. Heifers need sufficient growth for breeding, and cows need energy reserves to resume normal cycles and re-breed. Pregnancy rate can be affected by several disease issues, and the female needs adequate nutrients to develop immunity following vaccination.