Heifer Selection Strategies

Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist

Heifer selection needs to first start with a goal of how many replacements are needed to maintain the cow herd inventory. Once that is determined, here are some criteria to help select a cohort of females to breed, including: age, genetics, body condition and value.

Age

Older heifers are more likely to reach puberty before the beginning of the breeding season. The more estrus cycles a female has before breeding, increases the likelihood of her conceiving on first service. Therefore, older heifers might be the first pick when sorting through a replacement pen.

Genetics

Utilizing genetics for selection is important to make sure you are retaining heifers that you want to lead the next generation of the herd. This can be done by collection of DNA and utilizing a genomics ranking to identify heifers with more desirable maternal traits. Moreover, cattlemen can select heifers based on phenotypic traits of the dam and sire, that when expressed identify more desirable females. Traits such as docility, calving interval, longevity and udder quality can be tracked to select the higher quality females.

Body Condition

Research done to guide heifer development, targets breeding females at 55 – 65% of mature body weight. Adding excess condition before breeding may lead to more weight loss on pasture and a negative energy balance during the early breeding season causing less the desirable early pregnancy rates. Bigger is not always better. Feeding heifers on an increasing plane of nutrition that will allow them to meet their breeding target weight, whether that includes supplementation on grass or via total mixed ration in the dry lot. Overall, the rate of gain (constant, early or late; Clanton et al., 1983) has not shown significant differences in reproductive performance, so there is still time to adjust this spring.

Value

With current market value of steers and heifers being exceptional, extra consideration may go into the replacement heifer equation this year. If the balance sheet determines a need to sell more calves this spring, is purchasing bred heifers an option this fall? Considering the factors discussed earlier regarding genetics, this may not be an option for you. Yet, dry conditions make this even more difficult as yearlings are usually the first to go when grass resources are limited. Evaluate the value of keeping the genetics you know, along feed inventory reserves that may be utilized by the mature cow herd if pasture turn out is delayed or early weaning is necessary. Tools are available to evaluate the opportunity of raising versus purchasing bred heifers.

Source: South Dakota State University