It is a common practice for the first calf to be produced when the dam is three years old or older. The better ranching operations will have a calving rate of 90 percent or better. There appears to be a high correlation between good nutritional management and high calving rate, indicating that nutrition is a major factor in reproduction in beef cattle in the state. Most of the small ranches in Hawai'i are on a year-round breeding program. The practice on larger ranches is to concentrate breeding cattle during certain periods.
Artificial insemination is practiced on a limited basis in the state.
If it is combined with synchronized breeding, this can result in more concentrated calving periods, thus permitting more intensive supervision. Pasture and other ranch improvements require capital outlays that may take several years to recover. This is especially a problem for leaseholders, who often must make substantial capital outlays during the first few years with no immediate return. Short-term leases limit capital availability for pasture improvement. Cattle rustling is one of the oldest and most constant problems ranchers face.