When to breed heifers

[HOSS]

At what age is it apprpriate to get heifers bred? I have 3 Limousin heifers that are about 1 yr. old. Are they ready to be bred safely at this age? Thanks :?:

 

[jerry27150]

usually around 700 lbs or 14-16 months old

 

[greenwillowherefords]

usually around 700 lbs or 14-16 months old

Good advice.

 

[bigbull338]

great advice or breed them at 800lbs most wont stick on the 1st heat anyway scott

 

[TexasShooter]

Hoss,
I have Limo stock and it's not safe to breed at that age. If you do, you are going to have to pull every calf - with a high possibility of losing cow or calf...or both.

I follow jerry's advice.

usually around 700 lbs or 14-16 months old

 

[flaboy]

usually around 700 lbs or 14-16 months old

I agree with Jerry here on this. I did read on one of the ag livestock pages where they think the earlier the heifer gets bred and has a calf the easier she will calve the rest of her life. Now I assume this is within the guidlines of 70% adult body wieght and 14-16 months. I think they were saying don't wait until she is 24 months or so. I always try to get mine bred per Jerry's recommendation.

 

[Dusty Britches]

Hoss,
I have Limo stock and it's not safe to breed at that age. If you do, you are going to have to pull every calf - with a high possibility of losing cow or calf...or both.

Ditto that. I "accidently" let 4 brangus heifers aged 14 months, 650 pounds breed with my small angus bull. One heifer was to high headed to breed to anything and we sold her. The other 3 took. One went down while calving. We lost both the calf and the heifer. One was going to calve to a very large calf so we sold her, at the vet's recommendation. One calved just fine and we still have her. He calf is now 6 months old and a little less than 500 pounds. She is still around 900 pounds and bred back last month. I'm hoping to get some weight on her before she calves again.

I had another brangus heifer last year that was bred to my then 1/2 angus bull when she was 8 months old. I sold her before she calved, at the vet's recommendation.

We now seperate the heifers until they are 75-80% mature weight. If it takes her 17 months to reach that, then so be it. At least she'll be mature enough to handle a calf. And when she is 22 months old, we palpate to ensure she's bred. If not, I still have time to get her to the sale barn.

Of course this is just my opinion, based on very limited knowledge.