I have a 6 month old holstein heifer that I will probably take to the dairy sale in March. Just wondering how old the heifer needs to be to check for fertility? Also, should I have her checked by the vet before taking her to the sale for a better price? I usually raise only steers, but got this one really cheap because she limped a little. She's fine now.
Check for fertility?
- Thread starter pdoramus
- Start date
It goes by weight, not age, if the vet's doing a rectal palapation...and it would be around 600lbs. She has to be big enough for him to put his arm up her without causing damage.
If she's good you got a really good deal on her. :D
If she's good you got a really good deal on her. :D
I've gotten them to gain the same as steers up until 650lbs or so...after that I've always sold the steers so I don't know about gain after that point. ;-)
As to weight and age...that's a tough one. It really depends on the feed and nutrition they're getting. I have a heifer that made 650lbs by 9 months. But then I also purchased a heifer recently that was 15 months and somewhere around 600-650lbs. Big difference! And the difference was just in the feed.
On average, I'm figuring on a 1.8lb/day gain off holsteins; as low as 1-1.5 if they're on "just hay", or as high as 2-2.5 on grain. So from there it's just a mathmatical equation; age in days times pounds per day, usually estimating on the low end. :lol: 600lbs, minus a 70lb BW is 530lbs, divided by 1.8 is 294 days or 9-10 months. I'd say 10 months for a bottle calf on average feed.
As to weight and age...that's a tough one. It really depends on the feed and nutrition they're getting. I have a heifer that made 650lbs by 9 months. But then I also purchased a heifer recently that was 15 months and somewhere around 600-650lbs. Big difference! And the difference was just in the feed.
On average, I'm figuring on a 1.8lb/day gain off holsteins; as low as 1-1.5 if they're on "just hay", or as high as 2-2.5 on grain. So from there it's just a mathmatical equation; age in days times pounds per day, usually estimating on the low end. :lol: 600lbs, minus a 70lb BW is 530lbs, divided by 1.8 is 294 days or 9-10 months. I'd say 10 months for a bottle calf on average feed.
bigbull338
Well-known member
they wont palpate hr till she is 12 or so months old.is she showing a nice bagg with visable titts/an not just bumps on her bagg.
bigbull338":1pzbxeym said:
Would they palapte her? I was told with the springers they only bump them - no palapation. No idea on the younger stock. I haven't run any heifers through the dairy sale before; mine have always been sold private treaty and vet-checked before purchase.
I do know they can be palpated at/by 600lbs though.
bigbull338
Well-known member
i know here at 12 months they palpate.as well as check their baggs.they palpate to make sure they are breedable an not freemartins.i know alot of the dairy sales up north dont palpate at all.wich means you can slipp alot of freemartins though as breeders.an your right they bump alot of springers.in tecas everything is palpated.
