Beef Heifer Should Be Bred to Calve Adult Cow Herd

Range Beef Cow Symposium XXI

Dec 1, two and three 2009, Casper, Wyoming

Common $ense Heifer Direction

Dr. Patsy Houghton
Owner/General Manager
Heartland Cattle Visitor
Professional Heifer Development & Research Center
McCook, Nebraska

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INTRODUCTION

The replacement heifer is a mixed blessing for cow-calf operators. On one hand, she represents the future profitability and genetic improvement of the cow herd; thus her option and evolution are of paramount importance to the continued success of whatsoever cow herd.

On the other hand, the replacement heifer is an inconvenience at best. She is essentially non-productive for the first two-and-a-half years of her life; thus she places a significant drain on a rancher's cash menstruum, making her easy prey for mismanagement. Nevertheless, proper growth and development of the replacement female person from birth until she produces her starting time calf is of critical importance for her to become a highly productive part of the cow herd.

With this in mind, the concept of professional heifer development was beginning conceived in the tardily 1980'southward equally a event of a research/teaching plan conducted at Kansas State University by Dr. Larry Corah and Dr. Patsy Houghton. Houghton went on to form Heartland Cattle Company in 1990, which is a commercial business concern designed to produce genetically superior bred females for ranchers that excel in their on-ranch performance while producing high quality, consistent beefiness for consumers. To-engagement, Heartland Cattle Company has turned out over 71,000 AI bred heifers that accept been placed into 31 states. In add-on, nearly 120,000 tearful calves have been weaned and started; over 75,000 cattle accept been fed to cease; and nearly 40 research projects have been completed, including FDA controlled studies for clearance of product usage in replacement heifers and feeder cattle. Heartland Cattle Company enjoys long-term customer relationships with an average annual client retention rate of over 97%. Long-term, high quality employees are another hallmark of the Company, and are largely responsible for much of the Heartland success story. Heartland Cattle Company along with our customers (many who accept been with us since our first couple of years in business) will be celebrating twenty years of professional person heifer development in 2010. Much of the information presented in this newspaper is from benchmark information collected from these customers' cowherds over the past nineteen years. All of united states of america at Heartland Cattle Visitor, forth with our valued customers, promise yous might do good from our combined years of experience of Common $ense Heifer Management .

WHAT IS Professional HEIFER Development?

When heifer development programs are talked about, many people recollect only about how the heifers are fed. In fact, the nutritional program is only i facet of proper heifer development. Professional heifer development is actually defined by a variety of customer services. A full-service professional heifer development program volition besides include genetic consultation, an effective estrus synchronization and heat detection plan, a total artificial insemination (AI) and/or embryo transfer (ET) plan, helping ranchers define and meet their targeted goals, effective data management and summary, providing convenient ranch records, placing the desired pick pressure on fertility via the feeding program and/or length of the convenance season, sending heifers back to the ranch that are like shooting fish in a barrel to handle and providing on-going cowherd consultation.

These services all need to exist provided to customers in a toll constructive format, and must rely on economies of scale to do so. Very only, customers will vote with their return business concern if a program is providing them good value per dollar spent. In this instance, value is gauged largely by subsequent longevity of the heifers when, and if, they can be economically retained in the rancher'southward mature cowherd. Long-time criterion information from Heartland Cattle Company shows an 8 percent improvement in second-calf rebreed rate across herds and locations when professionally adult heifers are compared to heifers previously developed on-ranch. Add together this to an average x-plus year productive lifetime in the cowherd , and the subsequent value of a well managed professional heifer development plan speaks for itself.

WHY PROPER HEIFER MANAGEMENT IS Profitable?

1. Reduced convenance costs . Stringent culling eliminates poor replacement prospects prior to investing time, labor and expense into breeding these heifers. Over the years, pre-convenance soundness exams at Heartland Cattle Company take resulted in an average three to 9% alternative rate prior to convenance. Reasons for culling have included small pelvic area, infantile reproductive tracts and/or various functional soundness bug. When these poor replacement prospects are identified prior to convenance, information technology allows the rancher to trade them in a timelier manner, thus improving greenbacks flow and reducing total carrying costs.
   
2. Improved conception rates . Only early on born, efficient gaining heifers should be kept as replacement prospects. In improver, pre-breeding soundness exams can help identify those heifers that are the most probable to conceive. These advantages, combined with proper nutritional development, result in optimal outset service conception rates and pregnancy rates.
   
3. Heavier calves at weaning . Estrus synchronization results in an earlier average conception date inside a defined breeding season. This translates into older, heavier and more uniform calves at weaning. In addition, the utilise of high accuracy expected progeny difference (EPD) sires can effect in calves with superior genetics for proceeds efficiency. Please go on in listen that calves with superior growth genetics are not necessarily large framed cattle. The key is to identify moderate framed cattle with superior growth (lbs.) that however have the ability to attain puberty at an early age.
   
4. More uniform dogie ingather . The use of high accurateness, multiple trait AI service sires result in a calf crop with more compatible genetics for growth, frame, muscle, etc. This leads increased quality and predictability of steer and heifer progeny, and makes retained buying and grid marketing at harvest feasible options.
   
5. Decreased bull costs . With the incorporation of an AI programme, fewer bulls will be purchased and maintained past cow-calf producers. Without the demand for heifer bulls, this also means simplification of pasture direction systems for the rancher.
   
6. Less calving difficulty . AI sires with loftier accuracy EPD's for calving ease result in less calving difficulty, dogie loss, heifers that breed back earlier and increased cowherd productivity. Data nerveless from Kansas State Academy and Heartland Cattle Company indicate an average improvement in weaned calf crop by seven% when heifers are placed in a developmental programme with proper nutrition, along with rut synchronization and AI.
   
7. Decreased labor at calving . Heifers that undergo estrus synchronization volition calve in a shorter period of time. This decreases labor requirements at calving and increases the amount of time that could be devoted to other enterprises. More chiefly, a concentrated calving season simplifies subsequent nutrition, health and marketing programs for the rancher.

HOW Can I ACHIEVE THESE GOALS?

Past post-obit proper heifer development procedures, producers accept a better chance of incorporating a female into their herd that will be productive for years to come up. Research conducted at Heartland Cattle Company shows a successful program revolves effectually the post-obit points.

1. Heifers should mature into cows that weigh 1100-1300 lbs, depending on available feed resources. The primal is to match weight with appropriate frame. Exist conscientious when selecting for lighter weight cattle in hostile feed resource areas that yous are non inadvertently selecting for difficult-keeping, inefficient cattle. For example, a heifer that matures at 1100-1150 lbs. should have a loftier four frame score. Frame score six heifers that mature at 1100-1150 lbs are simply narrow, light muscled, difficult fleshing females!
   
2. Heifers should exist moderate framed. Information from Heartland Cattle Company shows that medium framed heifers, within a biological type, have the highest fertility year-in and year-out. Taller, larger framed heifers take a longer growth bend and tend to achieve puberty subsequently.
   
3. Color is a personal preference, but an of import perception when trying to establish a uniform cow herd. Our preference for a commercial herd is a solid black or crimson bodied heifer. A white or mottled face up is acceptable if there is pigment effectually the middle for reducing the incidence of pink eye.
   
4. Don't forget the advantages of hybrid vigor! A planned crossbreeding or composite program will return big dividends in the form of improved fertility, growth, longevity and allowed response. The primal is to develop a closely controlled plan and stick to it so that consistency and uniformity are not sacrificed.
   
5. Heifers should have genetic merit for maternal ability, growth and carcass traits.
   • Maternal traits. Select for a loftier quality udder and optimal milk production. Milk product should not exist and then loftier that it interferes with fertility inside a particular feed resource environment. In addition, females should show natural protective behavior toward their calves without existence over-aggressive toward people when managed in their natural surroundings.
   • Growth traits. Females should produce moderate framed, fast gaining, and easy fleshing heifer calves for replacements. Feed yard progeny should mature at ane,200 to 1,400 lbs, with the ability to gain weight rapidly at minimal dry matter conversion rates.
   • Carcass traits. Females should consistently produce calves that tin can exist harvested by thirteen to 14 months of age with Choice, Yield Grade 2 carcasses. Carcasses should normally weigh between 700-950 lbs. depending on the marketing grid, and loin eye surface area should normally range from 12.0 to xv.v square inches.
     
6. Heifers should have a calm disposition. Cattle with a quiet disposition exhibit better fertility, allowed response, weight gain and meat quality. This likewise ways less wear-and-tear on facilities and ranchers!
   
7. Heifers should have a permanent, highly visible identification and then genetic merit and production power can be measured and recorded for each individual.
   
8. Heifers should be structurally sound and have functionally sound optics, teeth, jaw, and udder.
   
9. Heifers should be fully vaccinated on a timely schedule. Research published past Heartland Cattle Company shows proper preconditioning programs can finer reduce treatment rates by as much as 20%. Also, information technology is extremely important that heifer calves are officially calf hood vaccinated (OCV) for brucellosis prior to x months of age. After 10 months of age, heifers run a chance of showing a positive titer for brucellosis as a young cow.
   
10. Biosecurity problems cannot be ignored! High-risk cattle associated with Persistently Infected Bovine Viral Diarrhea (PIBVD), Johnne's and Listeriosis should be eliminated via appropriate testing procedures.
    
11. Heifers should undergo a reproductive soundness examination 35 to 45 days prior to breeding, including a reproductive tract score, body condition score, pelvic measurements, body weight, frame score and functional soundness evaluation. When considering pelvic measurements, a conservative view is encouraged. Since in that location are differences between technicians and instruments when measuring pelvic area, we prefer to use these measurements only to sift out obvious issues, and lesser-end cattle. These measurements tin likewise exist useful in identifying and tracking sire lines that propagate potential pelvic area bug in their daughters.
    
12. Feed heifers a high roughage-limit fed diet to weigh 60-65% of their mature trunk weight when bred for the showtime time. Optimum gain and breeding weight will vary according to customer request regarding selection pressure on fertility, trunk status and estimated mature weight. Some producers prefer to develop their heifers to just 50-55% of their mature body weight. On the upside, the latter programme will place more selection pressure on replacement heifer fertility. On the downside, pregnancy rates will likely be x to 15% lower than heifers developed to sixty-65% of their mature torso weight; and in the case of a significant ecology challenge, heifer pregnancy charge per unit might be reduced past as much as 50%. Other disadvantages of lighter developmental target weights can be increased calving difficulty and weak calves.
    
13. Nosotros prefer heifer body condition score (BCS) to be at v.5 to 6.0 at fourth dimension of commencement breeding. From a practical standpoint, visual BCS is the target measure actually used rather than pct of body weight considering of the labor necessary to accept repeated weights. When these two measures are related, heifers adult to ~50% of their mature weight will accept a BCS of iv, whereas heifers developed to 60 to 65% of their mature weight will take a BCS of 5.5 to 6.0. This level of evolution provides the heifer a margin for mistake of approximately one-one-half of a BCS, and helps ensure she will not get downhill quickly in the example of a significant conditions challenge during her concluding trimester of pregnancy, which can result in calving difficulty, weak and/or expressionless calves and poor brood back. It'southward also important to note that a first-calf heifer is all the same developing through her first calving. This is different a mature cow that merely needs to maintain her body weight. A skillful human analogy might be that Grandma doesn't require the same caloric intake to maintain her weight as does her 16-yr-erstwhile growing granddaughter who is a competitive athlete!
    
14. Heifers should be synchronized to breed at thirteen to 14 months of age. This might exist the most of import criteria related to beginning service formulation rate in heifers. Information technology doesn't thing if the heifer has adequate flesh if she is merely also young to be cycling. Over time, nosotros have observed an boilerplate reduction in first service conception charge per unit of 5-xv% in twelve vs. 14 month old heifers. This is why information technology is important to select potential replacements from your early born heifer calves!
    
15. Heifers should exist bred to proven multiple trait, outcross, calving ease sire/s at least 21 days ahead of the mature moo-cow herd. This gives the producer at least i actress cycle to rebreed heifers and still keep them on a timely calving schedule. Additionally, ranchers can devote all of their attending to start calf heifers if they calve earlier the mature cow herd. The contempo onset of some severe genetic defects in our nation's beefiness cattle population brings home the importance of using outcross genetics. This means yous must be able to define the genetic background of your heifers before selecting a service sire/due south. There is no doubt, in the cattle industry'southward quest for product consistency, the genetic base of several of our beefiness breeds has narrowed. The net result of fewer genetic lines within any breed is a greater chance of line breeding and/or inbreeding. These closely related genetic matings tin can event in the expression of genetic defects in newborn calves, and/or increased embryonic death loss due to the sloughing of abnormal embryos. In fact, early embryonic death has been shown to exist ane of our biggest challenges related to beef cattle fertility!
    
16. Approximately seventy% of all heifers should conceive by artificial insemination, on their first service, to a high accurateness EPD, multiple trait service sire.
    
17. Heifers should be pregnancy tested at 45 to xc days postal service-convenance so open heifers can be identified early for feeding and harvest.
    
18. Heifers should go on to be developed on a high roughage diet so they will achieve 80-85% of their mature body weight by the time they calve the first time.
    
19. Heifers should calve unassisted at 22-23 months of age, raise a healthy, high quality calf and provide optimal milk production for calf growth equally defined by the ranch grass resources.
    
20. Heifers should develop into a mature cow that will consistently rebreed on minimal inputs inside a 365-day calving interval, over a productive lifetime of at least vii years.

SHOULD I CONSIDER PROFESSIONAL HEIFER Evolution?

Since Heartland Cattle Company originated the concept of professional heifer development in 1990, it has since become a recognized sector of the beef cattle industry. Since its inception, countless articles have been written on professional heifer development and others have worked to found similar programs. While this has been a positive move in the cattle industry, it has acquired many producers to question if they should consider professional heifer development for their beef cattle enterprise.

When deciding if professional person heifer development makes sense, it is important the rancher takes the following into account:

1. Opportunity value of his labor, state, feed resources and facilities.
2. Accountability of the heifer development program in question.
3. Value per dollar spent.

To properly evaluate these points a rancher might be ahead if he asked himself the following questions:

1. Do I have the labor forcefulness, technical expertise, and facilities necessary to effectively handle a heifer development and breeding program?
   
2. Do I accept the time to devote to a heifer development program, or would it exist more efficient and profitable to concentrate my time and resources toward my mature cowherd and/or farming enterprise.
   
3. Do I have enough heifers to make it economically feasible for me to devote my time, labor and facilities to developing and breeding heifers; or would I be ahead to forward contract professionally developed, bred heifers with known genetics?
   
4. Should I consider condign a specialized terminal producer where I place all of my calves (heifers and steers) into a feeding program, and purchase professionally developed bred heifers with the proper maternal genetics? Would this concept permit me to more efficiently market my unabridged calf ingather, reduce my labor requirements, and increase my overall profitability?
   
5. **Would it be more than profitable to increase my mature moo-cow herd numbers, rather than devoting my grass resources to developing replacement heifers that will provide me no saleable product for ii-and-a-half years? This is a very important consideration for ranchers!
   
6. Should I develop my replacement heifers elsewhere so I tin direct my strongest grass resource to my 2-and three-year-old cows?
   
7. What is the long-term comparative cost of ownership non-descript heifers with no known data backside them equally opposed to purchasing professionally adult heifers with known genetics?
   
8. If I do commit to a heifer development program, is it managed in such a way that I am assured of AI pregnancies vs. clean-upward bull pregnancies?
   
9. Does the heifer development program under consideration have whatsoever history of success, and can they document reproductive performance? Are they able to offer multiple references?
   
10. Could I improve my bottom-line profitability by calving estrus synchronized heifers bred to high accuracy EPD bulls in terms of improved conception rate, earlier calving date, less calving difficulty, improved retention of second and third calvers, improved cowherd longevity, more uniform and anticipated genetics and reduced bull requirements?

These are all important points, and the answers will not be the same for everyone!

Render to Range Beef Cow Symposium XXI Tabular array of Contents page

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Source: https://beef.unl.edu/beefreports/symp-2009-07-xxi.shtml

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