replacement heifers
- Thread starter TB521
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TB521":3l9urrbf said:
That doesn't sound logical to me.
denvermartinfarms
Well-known member
Not saying there's not any truth to that, but I wouldn't let the possibility keep me from trying them.
Nesikep
Well-known member
I usually keep away from heifers from first timers... Genetically they'd be the same as their older siblings of course, but it's rare that they haven't been a bit short changed on groceries, and they just aren't as well developed. I usually tried to stay away from linebred heifers, but this year the best of the bunch is a linebred one, kept one last year too, so the jury will be out on her... Had a couple linebred heifers before that didn't perform, and I thought it was because of that, but then when their mothers were bred to different bulls, those heifers didn't perform either. From another line I had one and she did breed back and lived to about 6 years, but never made a very good calf.
Last year the mother of this pretty heifer was a first timer, and had a heifer too, she was a really nice calf, built solid and meaty, but needed another 100 lbs.. Looks like this one has the extra weight.
I'd say if they're the same size as the rest of the heifers and you couldn't tell, their mother must be pretty darned good... If you can afford to breed them at about 18 months old, that may give them that bit of extra time they need.. it's a PITA for most people, us included, so we never keep one that would require the special attention.
Last year the mother of this pretty heifer was a first timer, and had a heifer too, she was a really nice calf, built solid and meaty, but needed another 100 lbs.. Looks like this one has the extra weight.
I'd say if they're the same size as the rest of the heifers and you couldn't tell, their mother must be pretty darned good... If you can afford to breed them at about 18 months old, that may give them that bit of extra time they need.. it's a PITA for most people, us included, so we never keep one that would require the special attention.
bigbull338
Well-known member
i would not base keeping or selling a heifer out of a 1st calf heifer on what some1 says.i keep heifers out of 1st calvers.if they dont breed back it todo with their repro tract their body score envirment.
Son of Butch
Well-known member
TB521":32mfnfgb said:
Ridiculous!
How many did they have...2?
They were just spreading old wives' tales.
There may be other reasons not to select replacements from heifers, but lifetime fertility is not one of them.
Dairy farmers have been doing it for generations and if it were truly a problem it would have been well documented by now.
The root problem is usually nutrition and most often affects 1st calf heifers not just the ones from heifers.
Taurus
Well-known member
I kept few heifers out of first timers, and I never have any issues. One of our best cows.....is actually a heifer calf out of a first timer. That said, any heifers may have hard time of get bred back after they had a first calf, no matter whenever the mothers are out of a first timer or a 8th calver.
Fire Sweep Ranch
Well-known member
I have several generations of first calf heifers out of first calf heifers... not typically a problem over here...
FlyingLSimmentals
Well-known member
Age of the Dam don't dictate which heifers we keep. It doesn't matter if the dam was a 2 year old, 6 year old, or a 16 year old a good heifer is a good heifer. Breeding back depends on the females fertility, the difficulty of the birth, if they are getting the right nutrition to maintain their weight, some heifers require more nutrition than others etc... Several of our best replacements have been from first calving dams.
Nesikep
Well-known member
Hope she does well for you.. My weaning weights on my calves was down a little this year.. I figure the ones I kept are in the 750-800 lb range now at 9-10 months
