my first heifers! and help w/ BCS

[pdubdo]

Seems like forever but I finally got my first 4 commercial RA heifers! Had em since May on native grasses only. They aren't dead yet so I think that's a win! Gonna start supplementing so can y'all with more experienced eyes help me w/ BCS? I'd like to track it through the winter (or until I get a set of scales). Also, feel free to critique them. You won't hurt my feelings and it'll help me with future purchases. Appreciate all the help this forum has given me!

 

[Coosh71]

Are the heifers bred?

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

Not sure what their bcs is but they look good and healthy to me!

 

[ALACOWMAN]

As my aunt would say, they don't look emancipated :cowboy:

 

[pdubdo]

Are the heifers bred?

Not bred-they were born in Oct/November. Haven't decided on fall-calving or wait for spring calves (whole different topic!)

 

[Coosh71]

What's your plan for breeding? AI? Rent a bull? And yes they do look good. Hard to score from pics, but they look good.

 

[Gators Rule]

Nice heifers for you to start!!!

 

[Nesikep]

As my aunt would say, they don't look emancipated :cowboy:

 

[snoopdog]

Nice looking girls !

 

[Son of Butch]

I'd score your heifers BCS 6 - Good

Body Condition Score measures the energy reserves of the animal
1 Emaciated
2 Very Thin (rail thin)
3 Thin (can see the ribs individually)
4 Borderline (can't see ribs, but hard, sharp top line with no fat deposits)
5 Moderate (overall appearance good)
6 Good (slightly fat on tailhead and pins)
7 Very Good (spongy fat around the tailhead)
8 Fat (fat pones obvious around the tailhead)
9 Very Fat

Breeding Animals should be 5, 6 or 7

 

[cjmc]

I'd score your heifers BCS 6 - Good

Body Condition Score measures the energy reserves of the animal
1 Emaciated
2 Very Thin (rail thin)
3 Thin (can see the ribs individually)
4 Borderline (can't see ribs, but hard, sharp top line with no fat deposits)
5 Moderate (overall appearance good)
6 Good (slightly fat on tailhead and pins)
7 Very Good (spongy fat around the tailhead)
8 Fat (fat pones obvious around the tailhead)
9 Very Fat

Breeding Animals should be 5, 6 or 7

I agree with your eye that they are a 6. Ideal BCS would be a 6. I would say a range of 5-7 is acceptable condition. I disagree with the description though, you will definitely see some ribs with cows in a BCS of 4.

 

[Son of Butch]

I can live with that, perhaps better description of 4 is can't see fore ribs, but rear rib or 2 might be visible.
But there are some animals with rib covering that still fall a bit short of 5 if you feel for fat across their top line.
It's helpful to be able to touch the animal to verify a score of 4 or 7
Breeding bulls should be bcs 6 at the start of breeding season.

 

[pdubdo]

What's your plan for breeding? AI? Rent a bull? And yes they do look good. Hard to score from pics, but they look good.

Still working on that. prob rent-a-bull. I'm tempted to put them with a longhorn for first calf. I don't live on-site and it'll be hard to check them constantly when they calve. Want to maximize my chances of getting a live calf. Thanks to everyone for the info.

 

[holm25]

What's your plan for breeding? AI? Rent a bull? And yes they do look good. Hard to score from pics, but they look good.

Still working on that. prob rent-a-bull. I'm tempted to put them with a longhorn for first calf. I don't live on-site and it'll be hard to check them constantly when they calve. Want to maximize my chances of getting a live calf. Thanks to everyone for the info.

Angus throw pretty small calves too. Get a live calf first and then rebreed to a Simmental bull for second calves. You won't be disappointed.

 

[holm25]

The heifers look like they're in pretty darn good shape. Our cows range from 5-7 BCS.. I prefer heifers in the 6 range for first breeding... Don't want overly fat heifers...

 

[Gators Rule]

Personally I wouldn't go LH even if it's a first calf heifer. You can easily go Sim, Angus or whatever, as long as LBW, and proven.

 

[Son of Butch]

IF you can A.I. them I believe you would be very happy with the calving ease sire Bankroll.

http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.ph ... ge?bid=365

 

[Lazy M]

Personally I wouldn't go LH even if it's a first calf heifer. You can easily go Sim, Angus or whatever, as long as LBW, and proven.

+1. You've kept them long enough and have too much money in them now to short yourself $ on some throw-away longhorn calves

 

[ALACOWMAN]

As my aunt would say, they don't look emancipated :cowboy:

looks like they were right.it was free :cboy:

 

[holm25]

IF you can A.I. them I believe you would be very happy with the calving ease sire Bankroll.

http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.ph ... ge?bid=365

I like him until I saw his video..