First time raising heifers

[pricefarm]

This is the first year I have ever keep back heifers for replacements. I have always just bought cows. I have 8 heifers that where born jan - feb. They are weaned and weight around 600lbs. I want to breed them about the first of May. Iam feeding them fescue hay second cutting that was cut at the correct time. No I haven't got a hay sample but I know I should. I have available ground ear corn and ddg. How much feed should I give them to make them grow but not get fat?

 

[RanchMan90]

This is the first year I have ever keep back heifers for replacements. I have always just bought cows. I have 8 heifers that where born jan - feb. They are weaned and weight around 600lbs. I want to breed them about the first of May. Iam feeding them fescue hay second cutting that was cut at the correct time. No I haven't got a hay sample but I know I should. I have available ground ear corn and ddg. How much feed should I give them to make them grow but not get fat?

5 lbs a day + hay should pull them through til spring, you can adjust according to body condition score.

 

[Rafter S]

I agree. I've always given mine 5lbs of feed per day, along with hay, mineral, and salt, with good results.

 

[pricefarm]

Thanks for the info. What protein would u suggest that the feed be ? Then this spring once there is grass and they are breed do u continue feeding them grain or just grass?

 

[Rafter S]

I use a 12% feed, gradually taper it off when the grass starts to green up, and stop when I stop feeding hay.

 

[RanchMan90]

Thanks for the info. What protein would u suggest that the feed be ? Then this spring once there is grass and they are breed do u continue feeding them grain or just grass?

That ddg/corn mix you mentioned should be around 18% protein and be a great feed. I wouldn't recommend anything less than 16% but that's just my opinion.

 

[angus9259]

I don't give feed. Just hay - good 2nd or 3rd cut grass hay - but just hay. The ones that breed that way are the ones I want to keep. I have limited space so I'm not panicked about getting everyone bred. Anything that doesn't breed for a fall calf next year, I breed the following spring and sell to someone else as a spring calving bred heifer.

 

[NolanCountyAG]

I don't give feed. Just hay - good 2nd or 3rd cut grass hay - but just hay. The ones that breed that way are the ones I want to keep. I have limited space so I'm not panicked about getting everyone bred. Anything that doesn't breed for a fall calf next year, I breed the following spring and sell to someone else as a spring calving bred heifer.

Why would you want to sell a heifer that couldn't get bred in ample time to someone else? Seems like passing on possible breeding problems.

 

[angus9259]

I don't give feed. Just hay - good 2nd or 3rd cut grass hay - but just hay. The ones that breed that way are the ones I want to keep. I have limited space so I'm not panicked about getting everyone bred. Anything that doesn't breed for a fall calf next year, I breed the following spring and sell to someone else as a spring calving bred heifer.

Why would you want to sell a heifer that couldn't get bred in ample time to someone else? Seems like passing on possible breeding problems.

For starters, that's what people get at the sale barn all the time. It's buyer beware and everyone knows it.

Second, re-read the post. I don't sell off the "poor breeders" I push them hard to see which are the "best" breeders and I keep the best. That's also kind of my point - when you are limited in space, you need to find a way to let the cream rise to the top. If you subsidize everyone, there's no way of knowing who is the best. In fact, over feeding to make sure everyone gets bred is probably a better way of passing on breeding problems because no one is aware of the problem because they get bred. Now, that's not a bad plan if you have the feed, have the space, want to grow the herd, etc... etc...

Lastly, if someone comes to my place and wants to buy some of my "best" heifers, then, I'm very up front with people about who is what and why they are that way.