Breeding heifers

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dun

dun

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MO Ozarks
Just read another mind numbing article concerning breeding seasons. I've only seen one study, and that was last year, that doesn't recommend breeding heifers 3 weeks ahead of the cow herd.
How many people breed their heifers ahead of the cow herd? For those that don't, what % come up open or breed late for their second calf? For those that do breed their heifers early, what % come up open or breed late for their second calf? Regardless of when you breed your heifers, what % come up open or breed late for their second calf?
Being a multi part question I can't figure out how to do this as a poll.

dun
 
dun":fmrbb5jb said:
Just read another mind numbing article concerning breeding seasons. I've only seen one study, and that was last year, that doesn't recommend breeding heifers 3 weeks ahead of the cow herd.
How many people breed their heifers ahead of the cow herd? For those that don't, what % come up open or breed late for their second calf? For those that do breed their heifers early, what % come up open or breed late for their second calf? Regardless of when you breed your heifers, what % come up open or breed late for their second calf?
Being a multi part question I can't figure out how to do this as a poll.

dun
Click to expand...

now this isn't very acurate numbers because it's just comin out of my head. But we breed the heifers the same time or even a little after the cow herd. They are calving now in the nice weather so that just in case one of them is a bad mom we don't have to be so worried about their calf gettin frozen.

For us it all depends on the year as to how high of a percentage breeds back. The heifers that were bred in 2002 probably 85% of them calved with the rest of the herd and the rest calved in August. The 300 series heifers had a higher percentage of problems and I attribute some of that to using the CIDRs and tha possibly screwing them up because there are a few that still havent calved..... :roll: they are heading down the road next week. The 400 series is calving now but they are in such great condition I would guess they will breed extremely quickly.
 
Actually was planning on putting them earlier this year--can I get back to you next spring??? We've always bred/exposed them at the same time as the mature cows. All of last years 1st calvers except for one bred back in a tight window. She is among the final 3 including 2 very healthy/"predictable" cows! So, if we breed them early it will be more with the notion of giving them a little extra time and energy towards growth in their youth.



P.S. Is there some way to speel chuck (spell check) when posting? Thanks!
 
fellersbarnoneranch":1dpqt6hf said:
P.S. Is there some way to speel chuck (spell check) when posting? Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's easy as pie. You type it in MSWord or some other word processor software, run the spell checker then cut and paste it into your message. Pretty obvious I don;t do that verry often

dun
 
Dun,

I breed my heifers to calve early february and then the mature cow herd starts calving the first of march.

The heifers then join the mature cow herd and calve in march with their second calves. As a result, I have no open or delayed breeding first calvers. If they turn up open they grow wheels. Simple as that. IMO management plays a big role.

My yearlings are managed a bit different than the old cows. They saty in a seperate pasture untill they calve. All are AIed once then the bull goes out. They calve in that seperate pasture as well. Breeding time again, they are put into the mature herd. Most AIed once then in with the bull.
Not too many chances for strike 2 here, purebred or not.
 
Yea I like to turn bulls out on the heifers ahead of the cow herd...3 weeks is good...2 cycles would be better for me if it wasnt for supplementing wet heifers. I like to get the troublemaker calvers out of the way....that way I can mostly enjoy just riding through the cows calving. Not sure about the theiory that it gives them more time to get back inshape to breed back...if you have a dry spell it also gives them more time to suckle calves and be in poor condition at bull turnout. Dont know about the percents but I plan on a few skippers...dont like it but its mostly the facts of life
 
we ai all our hiefers to black angus bulls. then turn them in with the bulls for clean up. we get about 99%bred this way. seems the ones that don't breed ai don't breed with the bulls.
 
I just read an article about that too. We typically breed our heifers at the same time as the cows (calving starting 3rd week of Feb.). We don't have a problem with getting them bred back for the second calf generally. This year our second calvers all came first heat. Last year we had one second calver than came late and for the third calf she is late again. Would have shipped her out but with BSE she was worth nothing to ship so we are putting up with a few lates.
 

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