two years old is too young to have a calf

[City Guy]

In my intro to this site I stated that I felt heifers should not be bred to calve at two years old and many have disagreed with me. I state my case.
Consider that a 15 month old heifer is , at best, only 2/3 grown; she doesn't have all her teeth, her skeleton is not fully developed; internal organs are still developing and she likely has not developed enough fat cells to sustain her body condition and develop quality milk, but if she has, it was likely put there by a hot ration and has thus delayed the proper development of her rumen. An extra six months with the herd on good pasture would take care of most of these troubles
I know that some breeds and types mature earlier than others; small framed, British breeds being the leaders. And environment seems to play a part. In Africa three years old seems to be the norm. Nutrition level and management practices certainly play a big part.
In my "absolutely wonderful and perfect" fantasy herd I breed heifers at 21 months to calve at 30 months. I calve in May and November so heifers born in May become part of the November group and November replacements become May calvers.
As I understand it, the most difficult cows to rebreed are those being bred for their second calf and many of them are late to that second calving anyway, so why not put that time to good use? The extra six months before their first calf is the cheapest time of their open life- all the expense and heavy lifting is done, so why not let them run with the herd and learn from the adults how to "be cows"?
And the rancher has more time to scrutinize such traits as mobility (feet and legs) udder development and disposition.
It is my conviction that this six months will add an extra calf to the life of each cow (I know there is no way to prove or disprove that). Yet, when it come to replacements, I am a "proof over promise" guy; any time I can keep a cow and sell a heifer is a blessing.

Let us discuss.

 

[dun]

Most, even the majority of the producers only calve once a year. So by not breeding to calve at 24 months they now calve the first time as 3 year olds. Properly selected genetics for the environment and management addresses the issues of failure to breed back. I've seen more problems calving 3 year olds the first time vs 2 year olds. As in everything else in this business, one size does not fit all.

 

[inyati13]

Bovines evolved to cycle in 6 to 12 months. In the woods and on the grasslands millions of years ago, the bovine reproductive system became a fertile bed for a zygote at least by the age of 12 months. If the crucible of nature can not get it right, then I doubt anyone can.

I feel comfortable breeding domestic cows at 12 to 14 months of age. If you think that hurts them, visit me. My cattle look like they all need the Jane Fonda Diet Plan. They are all fat and sassy including first and second calvers.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats a lot more added to production cost .Just my thoughts most Reg herds these days do push feed !But ! what they are trying to achieve these days is top producing cows ,not only early mature,but if they have to help calf or moma in any way they get culled. talked to one producer about vigor ,[ if a calf dont get up on its own and nurse well its a dead calf in my heard ,in other words it and moma get culled !] said he dont want to have to help every calf in the heard and if moma cant drop a calf on time at maturity and for at least x amount of years, every year he culls . i have found this to be true in a lot commercial herds also .i think you got a good point about maturity ,and heres where i see a problem extra cost per calf/ cow over the whole herd would drive a lot out of bussines .this has also lead to a lot of cows staying in heard that need to be culled .once they are around that long they think well she drops a nice calf may be ill take a chance and keep her around for another year! :2cents:

 

[TCRanch]

I mentioned previously how important it is to work closely with your vet. We have our retained heifers pelvic measured at 11 months (when they get their BANGS & pre-breeding shots) so they can be bred at 15 months, calving at 2 years. If they don't "measure up" they are culled. Maybe we've just been lucky but all our heifers have bred back. The majority of our fall calves/laggers are from older cows (and yet, like Moo pointed out, we still keep most of them).

 

[Ebenezer]

...heifers should not be bred to calve at two years old

Bah Humbug. Get some real cows.

 

[Lucky_P]

Consider this...sutures of pelvic bones fuse and are ossified at around 27 months. If you can get that heifer bred and calved out prior to that point in time, there is more 'wiggle room', if you will, for a calf to pass through the birth canal. The fact that those sutures(junctions between the different bones that make up the pelvis) are not fused, allows for more stretching/spreading than if they were fused and unyielding.

 

[Rafter S]

Selling the first calf at 60 - 90 days old, as I do, allows them to breed back quickly and finish growing without the calf pulling them down.

 

[Alan]

Calving at 24 months or 30 months, it's about profit, missing one more potential calf produced. I have some two month old heifers that are looking good enough I will no doubt raise them for replacement heifers. Now for the sharp pencil, to get these calves ready to breed at 15 months I will have to give them every opportunity to reach the maximum growth potential and a safe calving size at 24 months. What I'm saying is there going to have to have all the hay and grass they want plus supplements (grain and corn), from weaning to breeding. Or I could just hay them through the winter and wait to breed at 21 months, no supplements but potentially one less calf. supplement cost compared to lost income from fewer calves.

 

[Alan]

Selling the first calf at 60 - 90 days old, as I do, allows them to breed back quickly and finish growing without the calf pulling them down.

Are you saying you sell calves from first calf heifers at 60-90 days? Interesting thought, simply because first calf heifers, for me, are usually smaller calves at weaning, second calves are much better. But my first thought, if you sell your first calves early, is how do you keep your calving window narrow, unless you calve year round.

 

[Caustic Burno]

...heifers should not be bred to calve at two years old

Bah Humbug. Get some real cows.

Amen he needs better cows

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Here we like our heifers to calf by their 25 month old birthday or just pass it a little. Say anywhere from 23 to 25 1/2 months old.

 

[Ky hills]

I have always liked for my heifers to calve at or a little before 2 years of age. It is just not practical for me to hold off on getting a calf on the ground. At 24 months old at calving, it is another 6-7 months until the calf is sold, and in most cases for me 9-10 months because I like to wean and precondition them. That makes it almost 3 years before any money comes in from a heifer.

 

[frieghttrain]

Sorry for being negative Welcome to the forum :welcome:

 

[Duramaxgirl]

What you say makes sense on paper and in a book. I have not owned cattle for a long time... about 8 years now. I have family members that tell me the same thing. 'wait to breed your heifers till they are at least 18 months'. They also don't own beef cattle... I have bred several of my girls from 13-15 months. I have noticed that they grow fine, and calve easy at the younger ages and also make great mothers and raise fine calves. I have all Hereford and Angus with a little Brahma/Charolais influence. One thing I tell people interested in livestock is read all you can ask all the questions from the experts that you can, but in the end everyone finds what works for them the best, and does it that way. If waiting till they are 21+ months works for you have at it just IMO :2cents:

 

[SJB]

Didn't you say in your first post you don't own any cattle, just read a lot?

Do you by chance have another screen name, and you're just pulling everybody's lariats?

 

[Caustic Burno]

Same thing I thought getting chain yanked

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

CB you might as well play along, at your age you surely don't have much better to do. :lol: :lol:

 

[Rafter S]

I'm thinking that this happening at the same time as the discussion about reduced website traffic might not be a coincidence.

 

[City Guy]

I do not have another screen name and I don't mean to be yankin' any body's chain. Sorry if it seems like it. When all I can do is read, all I can get is ideas, not experience. I got the ideas, you got the experience, lets work together.