Feeding Replacement Beef Heifers
- Ratio of Type of Mineral Mix to Feed
- Suggested Trace Mineral Levels in Mineral Mix
- Vitamins. Heifer calves require 20,000-25,000 IU Vitamin A/day. This can be provided by routine injection every 60 to 90 days or by the addition of a vitamin A premix to ...
Full Answer
How to manage the replacement heifer?
Good management of the replacement heifer starts before birth. When producing replacement females is one of the goals of the producer, the cows should have been bred to produce offspring with a high level of maternal merit.
What should I Feed my two-year old first-calf heifers?
Two-year old first-calf heifers in good body condition. Prior to pasture, top quality forage must be fed with adequate supplementation of energy (grain) to ensure adequate continued growth, milk production and early conception.
How much weight should a replacement beef heifer gain per day?
Ref: K. Lusby. Replacement beef heifers should attain 65 to 70% of their potential mature weight by the time they are bred at 14-15 months of age. This would mean that heifers should gain an average of 1.25 to 1.75 lb. per day from weaning to first breeding or 250 to 350 lbs. during the first winter (depending on breed).
What is the best starting feed for cattle?
Purina has a time-tested, traditional starting cattle feed in Precon ® Complete. Precon ® Complete adheres to the “rules of thumb” for a well-balanced starting ration and, better yet, newly weaned calves will “flat out” eat it. Usually, feeding Precon ® Complete for 7-14 days is sufficient on ranch-raised cattle.
How much grain do you feed a replacement heifer?
Replacement beef heifers should attain 65 to 70% of their potential mature weight by the time they are bred at 14-15 months of age....Table 4.Ration 18.5 lb. good quality legume hay (18% CP)Ration 29.0 lb. medium quality mixed hay (12.2% CP)4.5 lb. grain cornRation 38.5 lb grass hay (9.7% CP)4.5 lb. grain corn7 more rows•Feb 12, 2021
What should I feed my heifers?
Feed high-quality grass or hay, Accuration® Liquid Supplement or Accuration® Hi-Fat Block, and Wind and Rain® Storm® Cattle Mineral. Set replacement heifers up to take the place of existing females and be better than your current cow herd. By putting a total program together, you're not leaving anything to chance.
How much grain should I feed my bred heifer?
Total intake of hay and distillers would be about 24 lb/hd/da as-fed. After calving using the same hay you would need feed 4.2 lb/hd/da (3.7 lb/hd/da dry matter and distillers 88% dry matter). Intake after calving would be 25 to 26 lb/hd/da as-fed. The lactating diet will be about 12% CP and 62% TDN.
What do you feed a first heifer calf?
Supplement first-calf heifers with grains (energy) like corn, corn silage, or barley before they lose body condition. “Thin heifers don't breed back quickly, if at all,” says Bjurstrom. “If she rebreeds late, it will take several lactations to get her back on track with the rest of the herd.
How much protein does a heifer need?
During the growth phase of heifer development, that heifer requires 1.3 lb of crude protein per day, and 15.6 Mcal of energy per day (based on NRC requirements). If in our example heifers are weaned in the fall (spring calving herd), the forage available would typically be mature or processed winter forage.
How much hay does a heifer eat per day?
24 pounds per dayCows will voluntarily consume about 2 percent of their body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100 percent dry matter. Grass hays often will be 7 percent to 10 percent moisture.
Do cows need grain everyday?
The grain finished cattle need to be checked regularly and fed daily. They live in the pasture their entire lives and also receive natural grain during the last 6 months of their life. It's up to them on if they eat the grass or grain.
Is corn high in protein for cattle?
Corn can be used in many different types of backgrounding and finishing diets, and it can serve as a supplement in forage-based diets for beef cows. However, corn is relatively low in protein and high in starch, which can affect forage utilization negatively, especially in diets based on lower-quality forages.
How long does it take to feed out a heifer?
The amount of time on feed can vary from 60-150 days. For a backyard steer, 90 days on grain should be sufficient. The grain component will help him gain faster and change the flavor of the beef to more closely match what is purchased in the grocery store.
How much should I feed my first calf heifer?
A first-calf heifer at peak lactation is going to require at least 58 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 9.3 percent crude protein (CP) in her diet just to maintain what she has. If she needs to gain some weight before breeding, she will probably need at least a 65 percent TDN and 12.1 percent CP diet.
When can you breed a replacement heifer?
between 12 and 14 monthsIn order for this to take place, they need to be bred by 15 months of age and reach puberty between 12 and 14 months of age. Animal's ability to reach puberty is partly due to age and genetics, but more dependent on their plain of nutrition.
When should heifers first calf?
Historically, heifers were first bred at 2 yr of age, but as beef production systems have become more intensive over the last few decades, more and more producers have bred their heifers as yearlings to calve first at 2 yr of age.
What is a replacement heifer?
Purchasing or raising replacement heifers is a systematic part of maintaining a beef cow- calf operation. Replacement heifers should ultimately grow into a productive, fertile female that produces a calf annually as part of the herd. Many management decisions must be considered when selecting and raising replacement heifers.
How much weight do heifers need to grow?
This phase occurs from the time of weaning until breeding. In general, a growth rate of 1.0 to 1.5 pounds per day from weaning to breeding is needed for growing heifers to reach 65 percent of mature body weight.
How old do heifers have to be to be a calf?
Develop heifers to achieve 65 percent of their mature body weight at first breeding and to reach puberty by 12 to 14 months of age. Breed heifers with the goal of them having their first calf at the age of 2. Monitor body condition scores (BCS) as heifers are developed. Heifers need to be maintained at a BCS of 5 to 6.
What is feedstuffs based on?
Feedstuffs should be purchased based on quality and a cost-per-pound-of-nutrient basis . The following are examples of supplementation strategies for beef replacement heifers using conserved forage and feed resources commonly found in the Southeast.
What are the milestones that heifers must complete before entering the herd?
Heifers must complete several milestones before entry into the herd: selection at weaning, development from weaning to breeding, establishment and maintenance of a pregnancy, success during the first calving season, and establishment of successful rebreeding.
How old do heifers need to be to be weaned?
At weaning, heifers should be between 7 and 8 months of age and generally weigh 500 pounds or greater.
What is the BCS score for a heifer?
Heifers need to be maintained at a BCS of 5 to 6. Body condition scores reflect the relative body fat and energy stores of a beef animal. A score from 1 to 9 is assigned to an animal, with 1 representing emaciated (extremely thin) and 9 representing obese.
When should I breed replacement beef heifers?
Breeding Replacement Heifers. Replacement beef heifers should be bred three weeks prior to the breeding of the mature cow herd since heifers require a longer period of time to begin cycling and show heat after calving than mature females.
How much should a beef heifer gain?
This would mean that heifers should gain an average of 1.25 to 1.75 lb. per day from weaning to first breeding or 250 to 350 lbs. during the first winter (depending on breed).
Why are heifers stunted?
Normal body development is retarded, at least temporarily and some heifers may be permanently stunted unless proper nutrition is provided. The heifers' nutrient requirements are greatest during this period because she must maintain her body, nurse a calf, recover from calving, cycle, rebreed and continue to grow.
Why do two year old heifers have difficulty calving?
Calving difficulty in two-year-old heifers is caused by undersized heifers or oversized calves. These are not one in the same. Birth weight is controlled mainly by genetics and is considered to be the primary cause of calving difficulty.
How many pounds of calves do cows produce in a lifetime?
Research from Oklahoma shows that this is indeed true-heifers calving at two years of age produced an extra 330 pounds of calf on a lifetime basis over heifers calving at three years of age.
What are the challenges faced by beef producers?
One of the major challenges facing many beef producers is the development of replacement heifers for the breeding herd. Research has shown that the lifetime productivity of beef females can be increased by calving heifers at two years of age. This goal can be achieved by producers willing to provide the required nutrition and management to ...
Why is visual appraisal important for heifers?
Visual appraisal of heifer body condition can also be important in making adjustments to the feeding program. As mentioned earlier research has indicated that overconditioning replacement heifers can impair future milking ability and if continued could also result in increased calving difficulty. Table 5.
Why are replacement heifers kept?
Replacement heifers are traditionally kept to lead the genetic progress of the cow herd. These females, whether raised or purchased, need to have targeted development from birth to calving in order to be a productive part of the mature cow herd. Heifer development starts with proper whole-herd nutrition year-round.
How much should a cow weigh at breeding?
This will depend on cow size and targeted percent of mature weight by breeding season. For example, if average cow weight is 1400 lbs and 60% of mature weight by breeding is the goal, heifers need to weigh 840 lbs at breeding.
Do heifers need to be fed separately?
As soon as heifers are selected, they need to be fed separately from other backgrounded calves, as excess energy can have negative effects on long term mammary development and calving performance.
What is the body condition score of a first calf heifer?
They need extra energy and attention. To maintain them at a body condition score 5.5, feed them separately from the rest of the cow herd.
How much should a Simmental crossbred heifer weigh?
However, a Simmental crossbred should be 800 pounds because at 700 pounds you’ll potentially have 15 percent fewer heifers cycling.
What is the first step in calf growth?
Weaning is your first step to hitting target weight. If you’re feeding calves a commodity mix, you may not see optimal weight gain and calf health. A solid weaning-time nutrition program can ensure calves gain weight and stay healthy. Here are two weaning programs to give calves a jump-start on the growing process:
Is heifer replacement a long term investment?
Developing replacement heifers is a fancy way to say, “raising your future cows.”. It’s also a long-term investment because the payoff is a better future herd. Maximize your potential return on investment by focusing on four areas: Hit target heifer weight based on breed type.
How much weight do heifers need to be to breed?
The most critical point is that heifers be at the desired weight for breeding, which is approximately 65% of their mature weight. At this weight, most of the heifers will have attained puberty.
What is the development program for heifers?
The development program for heifers is divided into a number of stages. Providing heifers with nutrition to meet the target gains and weights indicated will result in a high level of fertility and calf health.
How much should a heifer weigh?
This practice may result in excessively fat heifers and should be discouraged. The heifer needs to weigh at least 450 lbs at 8 months to continue through the cycle and meet the target weights without needing a high level of nutrition.
Why is heifer development important?
Adequate heifer development is a key to profitable beef production. Unfortunately, due to the perceived high cost of developing heifers, many young females have a slow start in life and this impacts their lifetime productivity. The nutritional program for heifers need not be based on expensive purchased feeds, and target gains can be met easily ...
How to overcome the weight loss and nutritional stress of weaning?
The weight loss and nutritional stress of weaning can be overcome by a good weaning program. Get the calves started on some very high quality hay as soon as they are weaned, and start them on a palatable grain mix providing the recommended level of trace minerals and an ionophore.
Do heifers have a younger age?
The ages listed are based on the first day of the calving season, so the heifers will mostly be younger than the ages listed. These weights are shrunk weights, and are based on average body condition. Animals can be behind in their development at any point and still catch up.
Should heifers be turned out before calving?
Again, while it seems easy to achieve this performance goal, the heifers should not be turned out and ignored before calving. The producer should take steps to improve the body condition of heifers to be 6-7 pre-calving, and should pay extra attention to mineral and vitamin A nutrition during the last trimester.
How much does a heifer weigh at breeding?
And heifer weight at breeding? The Fort Keogh research is finding that heifers from the non-restricted group can enter the breeding season at 57% of mature weight, or around 700 pounds. The heifers from restricted dams enter breeding season at 54% of mature eight, or around 650 pounds.
Do cows manage less produce offspring?
As they followed the heifer calves into adulthood, becoming part of the cowherd, they found another take-home: “So the short of the story is cows managed with less produce offspring that are probably what you might call more drought resistant or function more favorably with less,” Roberts says.
How much weight do heifers need to be to breed?
Heifers need to reach 85 to 90 percent of mature weight by the time of calving to ensure high levels of breed back after calving. The development phase of heifers will affect their lifetime productivity. Taking shortcuts in management will affect the value of the female for its entire productive life.
What are the advantages of raising replacement cattle?
A major advantage of raising replacements is the opportunity to select heifers that are born in the first 60 days of the calving season and that are heavier at weaning.
Why do heifers have problems calving?
Calving problems can also occur because the heifers have not reached full maturity at calving, because the heifers lack calving experience, or because of improper calf presentation. Thus, producers without the ability, facilities or time to calve heifers may choose to buy second-calf heifers or cows.
What happens when cattle prices are high?
When cattle prices are high, producers begin to rebuild their herds by retaining “high value” heifers or by purchasing replacements. The thinking is that with high cattle prices, it is time to get into beef production or to increase current cow inventories.
What happens after the rebuilding phase of the cattle cycle?
After the rebuilding phase occurs, supplies increase and prices drop. This is the beginning of the herd liquidation phase of the cattle cycle. Another explanation of the cattle cycle is that cash flow often determines the number of heifers retained or purchased.
Why do producers cull heifers?
Most producers will cull about 20 percent of heifers because of non-reproductive issues such as structure or poor weight gain. Consequently, raising replacement heifers requires keeping about 45 percent more heifers than needed. This ties up capital for an extra 10 to 12 months before the culled heifers are marketed.
How has the beef industry changed?
The U.S. beef industry has changed dramatically in the past 15 years and will continue to do so to satisfy consumer demands for consistent, high-quality beef products. To meet these demands, the industry is shifting toward a production system based on quality.
