Heifers

March, 2010
Randy Gornto - Highlands County Extension, Livestock Agent

Heifers one of our most challenging opportunities on every ranch I’ve had the pleasure of touring over the years.

Replacement heifers represent our investment in the continued improved quality of the cowherd. In all herds that are making progress toward genetic improvement, the heifers represent the animals with the highest potential value. “Potential” is the key word here, and achieving this potential takes considerable time and money.

Replacement Heifers --- Purchase or raise my own?
This is a very important question to answer for your operation, especially if you are a medium to small producer. The costs associated with raising a replacement heifer are great. To complicate the issue, we all realize that selecting bulls that have the potential for producing quality replacement heifers , as well as calves with good carcass traits is difficult.

When selecting replacement females, big is not always better. Mature cows consume approximately 2% of their body weight every day, no matter what their size. Therefore, we could expect a 900-lb cow to consume about 1 ton less dry matter annually compared to a cow weighing 1200 lbs. The added cost must be offset by an increase in calf weaning weight. Select replacement heifers that are in the upper average for weaning weight, but not the largest in the group. An excellent way to understand this concept is by dividing a calf’s weaning weight by the weight of its pregnant dam at weaning. This tells us what the proportion of the cows’ actual body weight is being marketed each year.

Maintain Weaned Heifers on a High Plane of Nutrition
Brahman-influenced heifers achieve puberty more slowly that heifers of British breeding. A common target weight for the start of breeding season is 65% of the projected mature cow weight. In a typical Florida system, heifers born during Oct- Dec of one year can be exposed to bulls in Dec- Jan of the following year. The key to achieving acceptable conception rates is targeting optimal heifer weight at the start of the breeding season.

Separate heifers and young cows from the mature cows
Heifers and young cows require increased management beyond that of the cow herd. Consider keeping heifers and young cows separate from the mature cows until they have weaned their second calf. This provides the opportunity to address the special nutritional needs of heifers during the first and second lactation.

Target Your Highest Quality Forages for Heifer Grazing
Consider the range in quality of your pasture forages and allow your heifers and young cows access to the highest quality forage available.

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