Heifer development is one of the most substantial expenses for beef cattle operations. Time quickly gets away when you’re a cow-calf operator, but it’s essential to keep the first calf heifers on ...

Carefully preparing replacement heifers prior to breeding season is essential for improving conception rates and ensuring cows calve early and remain productive throughout their lifetimes, according ...

January is an extremely important check-point in spring heifer development programs. The key to proper heifer development lies in understanding the factors that influence conception in yearling ...

“A common rule of thumb for when beef heifers begin puberty is when they’ve reached about 60 to 65% of adult body weight by the first breeding season,” he said. “They’ll be more likely to conceive ...

A heifer breeding soundness examination (HBSE) should be a key part of pre-breeding preparation, alongside bull examinations. This should incorporate objective information that has been accurately ...

Breeding heifers at a younger age and at lighter weights yields a calf and return on investment earlier than waiting to breed until the heifer is heavier and older, but may require more careful ...

According to Thapelo Kgosi Ramokala, animal health specialist at the Beefmaster Group, there are three critical assessments to help primary producers select the best replacement heifers for long-term ...

Fall-calving herds will be breeding replacement heifers in late November. Now is the time to make certain that those heifers are ready for the upcoming breeding season. Immunize the heifers. Ask your ...

In April, calving season is in full swing, and livestock producers should start thinking about the upcoming breeding season, said David Fernandez, Ph.D., an Extension livestock specialist. Fernandez ...

The fertility of maiden heifers can be a large profit driver. The rearing costs of youngstock are often undercalculated and when feed, bedding, housing and labour are all accounted for can be in ...