I *usually* don't keep calves from heifers, but the last one I did, did very well, and a first timer this year raised a steer that I'm kinda regretting having banded
Here's the thing about heifers, they *might* be genetically better, but are you REALLY making genetic progress that quickly? Meanwhile that 10-15 year old cow has
proven she has what it takes to perform in your program
I don't think there's any good, hard rule about it
This is one heifer from a first timer I kept and have no regrets so far, heifer had her first calf this spring and did well... Momma's sister is the one who's calf I regretted banding
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I think he could have been a nice bull, but he'll be a tasty steer instead
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This is a yearling heifer from a 1st timer as well, she'll have a calf in the spring and I'm looking forward to that
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Keeping bulls from heifers, while I haven't done it (yet), if they were a little smaller at weaning it wouldn't affect their performance like it would a heifer, the heifer needs to have the genetics and the body condition, size, etc to raise the calf.. the bull, well, even if he looks starved and skinny, he's only a sperm donor in the equation.. The bulls I raise get no special feed, yes, they look a little gangly in their "teens" but they grow into their frames eventually
Here's my homeraised boy, sire of the heifer above, cow in first pic, and grandsire of the steer
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