Fall calving heifers 1st year, then move to spring calving?

[Muddy]

There's no excuse for that longhorn. She would be shipped out already.

 

[Aaron]

Here's another question to add to the mix. By holding a heifer out to calve at 30 months instead of 24 months, has anyone seen a difference in that heifer's 1st calf performance? Even though you are losing 1/2 a calf, have you seen an increase in the production from that first calf? I think it would be interesting to compare some data (WW, YW, etc) on those calves.

Weaning weights were always significantly higher on the older heifers here. But it is to be expected because they can be bred to performance bulls and easily calve out 100+ lb calves. They raise just as big of calves as the main cowherd.

 

[angus9259]

If your heifers can't calve at 24 months old and calf again another 365 days later you need to rethink your genetics and your feeding program.

We roll over any drop outs into into a fall freezer beef herd. :cowboy:

Funny.....

 

[Stocker Steve]

We roll over any drop outs into into a fall freezer beef herd. :cowboy:

Funny.....

and profitable.

 

[randiliana]

I wish more seedstock guys would be tougher on their cows!

We breed our heifers to calve right when they are 24-25 months old. Calving season is a little longer this year, maybe 70 days rather than 55... Culled out 2 heifers that were dry last fall out of 15. 205 day weights ranged from 494 lbs to 719 lbs. Heifers weighed between 976 and 1489 in late September. The heaviest heifer weaned the lightest calf... go figure. No creep feed for the calves, no grain for the heifers... just grass (mind you the best grass we've ever seen). The 2 dry heifers had around 650 lb calves. Both were heifers we bought. According to the vet at ultrasounding, all except one of the 13 pregnant heifers is due to calve on the first cycle in 2016.

Here's some data....