Replacement Heifer Management
Genetics, nutrition and management are factors to consider when developing replacement heifers.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (Feb. 2, 2005) — The importance of sound heifer replacement development cannot be overemphasized, two speakers told producers attending the Cattlemen’s College® during the 2005 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio.
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Tom Woodward, Broseco Ranch |
“Three factors affect heifer development: genetics, nutrition and management,” he says. “Genetics is the starting point. From weaning until 24 months, health, breeding and maintenance costs at a minimum equal the initial value of the heifer during that time.”
Woodward says nutrition is generally the reason for failure in getting heifers bred to calve at age 2. “Research has shown that if a heifer is going to have a chance to cycle and breed at 14 to 15 months of age, she must weigh about 65% of her mature weight at that time,” he says. “Management of the heifer selection process, the breeding season and calving are three other major areas to consider.”
Health is also a contributing factor. Veterinarian Dale Grotelueschen, Pfizer Animal Health, says development of replacement heifers can have significant impact on herd productivity and profitability. “Heifers that breed early in the breeding season have higher lifetime levels of production,” he says. “Health programs are part of that.”
Grotelueschen says infectious disease can severely affect that productivity. “Disease control, including and beyond vaccination, can and should be accomplished by using biosecurity and biocontainment fundamentals to economically address disease risk,” he says. “Disease control plans can be designed to address various infectious diseases and optimal levels of health risk in individual operations.”
Biosecurity efforts help prevent disease entry, while biocontainment controls disease agents. “Using these concepts, we can increase immunity of the animal/herd, eliminate the disease agent and prevent transmission due to animal contact,” he says. “Plans must be highly effective and result in predictable economic returns to the enterprise.”
Grotelueschen reminds producers that replacement heifers raised at home do not present the same risks for new disease as other animals. “Herd immunity begins with sound vaccination programs in young animals. Raised replacements are already part of those plans,” he says. “Commingling animals from more than one source results in the inevitable exchange of viruses, bacteria, parasites and other agents.”
— by Barb Baylor Anderson, field editor, Angus Productions Inc.
© Copyright 2005 Angus Productions Inc.
Editor’s Note: This article was written under contract or by staff of Angus Productions Inc. (API), which claims copyright to this article. It may not be published or distributed without the express permission of Angus Productions Inc. To request reprint permission and guidelines, contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at (816) 383-5270 or shermel@angusjournal.com.
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