Tuesday morning workshops were designed to improve understanding of the physiological processes of the estrous cycle, currently available procedures to synchronize estrus and ovulation, and the proper application of these systems. Tuesday afternoon's presenters explored the role of management and nutrition on reproductive rates.

Highlighting Tuesday's sessions were a keynote address by Ivan Rush, professor emeritus with the University of Nebraska, discussing why commercial cattlemen have been slow to adopt AI as a management tool and a producer panel describing the benefits and limitations of AI in three real-world settings.

Presenters Wednesday addressed male fertility, procedural and health-related factors affecting reproductive rates, as well as the value of using improved genetics and a futuristic look at potential advancements in assessing reproductive traits in beef cattle.

Visit the symposium newsroom at www.AppliedReproStrategies.com for summaries of the presentations, along with accompanying PowerPoint and audio files.

The symposium is co-sponsored by Colorado State University and the Beef Reproduction Task Force, which is comprised of Extension animal scientists from Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska, South Dakota State University, Iowa State University, the University of Idaho, the University of Illinois, the University of Florida and the University of Missouri with support from several industry sponsors.