Breeding Heifers

Gather App
If they're well grown out and cycling we start breedgin them aorund 14 months
 
Heifers born in March,April are bred in June/July If they pass pelvic exam and reproductive score is 4-5. Must also be at least 65% of expected mature weight.
Heifers born Sept/Oct are bred in Dec/Jan. Rest applies as spring calvers.
Valerie
 
It depends on size. But also depends on the breed. I usually put my brahman influenced heifers with a bull at 18 months. And any breeds that do not have brahman influence with a bull around 15 months.
 
Obviously you want the heifers big enough (800-900lb?) before breeding but as said above, by 14 months or so they should be big enough or they should be at the sale barn.

I think the focus should be on exactly WHEN you put the bull in to have them calve at a specific date that fits your climate, plans and markets. The emphasis should be to get them on a schedule to calve in a tight calving period when YOU want them to calve.

Getting them started on a tight calving schedule is very important to profitability. If they are calving at scattered times through the year it can be very difficult and expensive to tighten up that calving period later. jmho.

Pick a date that you want them to calve, go to a gestation chart and that is the day you put the bull in. BTW, here is a Hereford gestation chart I use. Probably very close for other breeds:

http://www.hereford.org/node/316 There are some other useful links in the upper LH corner of this page.

Jim
 
BRAFORDMAN":12fo44o0 said:
It depends on size. But also depends on the breed. I usually put my brahman influenced heifers with a bull at 18 months. And any breeds that do not have brahman influence with a bull around 15 months.
Click to expand...
Why do you wait so long on the brahman influence?
 
TexasBred":24oez4xm said:
BRAFORDMAN":24oez4xm said:
It depends on size. But also depends on the breed. I usually put my brahman influenced heifers with a bull at 18 months. And any breeds that do not have brahman influence with a bull around 15 months.
Click to expand...
Why do you wait so long on the brahman influence?
Click to expand...
Its just my preference. The heifers that i waited to about 18 months before breeding were larger at calving and raised bigger calves.
It depends on the cow. My expereince is cows that have their first calves closer too 3 have less problems and raise bigger calves.
I had some brangus first calvers bred too an angus bull. The cows were around 3 when they calved. They weaned 600 pound calves on strictly grass.
When you know your herd you breed according to your experiences. My cows seem to do better calving at 3.

it depends on rather you can afford to carry your heifers a few extra months before breeding.
 
BRAFORDMAN":quur911w said:
TexasBred":quur911w said:
BRAFORDMAN":quur911w said:
It depends on size. But also depends on the breed. I usually put my brahman influenced heifers with a bull at 18 months. And any breeds that do not have brahman influence with a bull around 15 months.
Click to expand...
Why do you wait so long on the brahman influence?
Click to expand...
Its just my preference. The heifers that i waited to about 18 months before breeding were larger at calving and raised bigger calves.
It depends on the cow. My expereince is cows that have their first calves closer too 3 have less problems and raise bigger calves.
I had some brangus first calvers bred too an angus bull. The cows were around 3 when they calved. They weaned 600 pound calves on strictly grass.
When you know your herd you breed according to your experiences. My cows seem to do better calving at 3.

it depends on rather you can afford to carry your heifers a few extra months before breeding.
Click to expand...
So your brahman influenced are having their first calf when mine are having their second calf. On just 50 head of cattle that's $35-45,000 depending on market. But "if you can afford it" what the heck.
 
Depends on how many heifers you have. If you are keeping or have 50 heifers then get them bred at the youngest and safest age.
When i keep heifers I keep a small amount?
My cows are still young there is no need for alot of replacements now. I keep a few heifers that stand out.
Some of my heifer go with the bull at 14 or 15 months. It just depends on the breeding behind the heifer.
 

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