Heifer Age breeding prospect determination

[dcara]

I have a group of 10-12 month old Red Angus heifers I would like to sort out any potential non/problem breeders now so I don't have to carry them into/through the winter. The 2 breeding issues I am most familiar with are pelvic size and infintile breeding organs. I have only seen these exams performed at 14 months. Can they be determined at 10-12 months? I've also heard of folicle counts and blood testing for hormone counts but not sure how early these tests can be done. What are ya'lls thoughts

 

[dun]

I have a group of 10-12 month old Red Angus heifers I would like to sort out any potential non/problem breeders now so I don't have to carry them into/through the winter. The 2 breeding issues I am most familiar with are pelvic size and infintile breeding organs. I have only seen these exams performed at 14 months. Can they be determined at 10-12 months? I've also heard of folicle counts and blood testing for hormone counts but not sure how early these tests can be done. What are ya'lls thoughts

We do it when they're yearlings so that by the time they're 14-15 months the dead wood has been shipped.
We want a score of 4-5, if it's a younger heifer I'll go with a 3 but keep an eye on her

From http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/asc/asc144/asc144.htm

An RTS of 1 is assigned to heifers with infantile reproductive tracts, indicated by small, toneless uterine horns and small ovaries lacking significant structures. Heifers scored as 1 are likely the furthest from cycling at the time of examination. Heifers given an RTS of 2 are thought to be closer to cycling than those scoring 1, due primarily to the presence of small follicles and slightly larger uterine horns and ovaries. Heifers assigned an RTS of 3 are thought to be on the verge of cycling based on slight uterine tone in addition to the presence of follicles. Heifers assigned a score of 4 are presumably cycling, as indicated by good uterine tone, uterine size, and follicular growth. However, heifers with tract scores of 4 lack an easily distinguished corpus luteum due to the stage of the estrous cycle. Heifers with tract scores of 5 are similar to those scoring 4 except for the presence of a palpable corpus luteum.

 

[RD-Sam]

Or you could just breed them at 12 to 14 months like we do and preg check them. I don't know anything about the red angus, I have black, but they almost always take on the first breeding. I have only had one heifer so far that we couldn't catch cycling, and she sure tasted good. :nod:

 

[dun]

Or you could just breed them at 12 to 14 months like we do and preg check them. I don't know anything about the red angus, I have black, but they almost always take on the first breeding. I have only had one heifer so far that we couldn't catch cycling, and she sure tasted good. :nod:

Doing the RTS at a yealring should also give you a pelvic size to minimize calving problems in the heifers. It allows for a lot more flexibility in bull selection. If they all are acceptable it cost a couple of bucks, if any aren;t acceptable it saves feed which could be better put into a productive animal

 

[RD-Sam]

What is your minimum pelvic size, and what size calf do you figure the minimum can safely give birth too?

 

[dun]

What is your minimum pelvic size, and what size calf do you figure the minimum can safely give birth too?

We use 150 as a minimum in yearlings. We haven;t had problems with them birthing upto 76 pound calves. That's just the heaviest we've had from a heifer except one that we had to pull a 120 lb calf from a purchased heifer 9-10 years ago.
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publica ... A-3010.pdf

 

[dcara]

Thanks Dun. Great links

 

[vclavin]

What is your minimum pelvic size, and what size calf do you figure the minimum can safely give birth too?

We use 160 at yearling and they are usually 180 or more by calving. Rule of thumb ( it's a little more technical than this but..) divide the sq cm by 2 to get the safe calf size. Hence 180 would allow for a 90lb calf born safely. Largest pelvic size we've had was 220 ... beef specialist thought a mistake so vet retested her.. she was 225 by then. She had a very small calf for such a large pelvic area.
Valerie