HeiferMatingL5

• Heifer Mating


  Breeding heifers at 15 months of age for increased productivity
• Three key areas that need attention:

  Getting the first calf in , getting the first calf out, getting the next calf in
• What are the benefits of calving heifers as 2 yr olds?

  The unproductive life of each female in the herd is reduced (15%)Lifetime output of cow is increased (10%)Good basis for selecting replacements
• Heifers to be bred at 14 months have a requirement for high quality feed if theyʻre to reach a minimum joinging LW re-breed after calving.
• Loss of a mob dry stock canʻt be used as a

  Buffer mob
• Lower % of heifers pregnant as 3 y/o: often one of the costs (5-10%) is a lower pregnancy rate as 3y/os, this lower rate is more than compensated for if lifetime production is considered
• What's 'Critical Minimum Weight' to breed heifers?

  Joining weight at which 85% or more heifers get pregnant in a 42 day joining period
• Factors associated with onset of puberty:

  LW, LW gain, ratio of fat to lean, season, genetic factors early or late maturing breeds, stress
• Lactating heifers require 60% more feed than dry heifers
• During lactation period, what does a heifer need to do?

  Feed a calf, grow herself, put on condition for re-breeding
• What does a farmer need to focus on to achieve high performance?

  CS and feeding levels, time of mating/calving, heifer health, bull fertility and performance
• What does calving at the right time ensure?

  Heifers consume surplus of feed, able to grow calves at 1 kg/day, on a rising plane of nutrition to meet CS for mating, doesn't compete for feed with other stock
• How can farmers successfully breed heifers at 15 months?

  Set a growth pathway from weaning to a minimum joining liveweight at 14 months, use a small breed type, select a bull with an EBV for birthweight below the breed average and look at calving ease EBVs, over mate - cull after pregnancy testing, feed as a growing animal until the last 2 months of pregnancy, join for 42 days at the same time as cows, and ensure heifers calve in 'fit' condition.
• What should farmers aim for?

  85% pregnant after 42 day joining period, 60-75% calve in first 21 days, 95% calf survival/pregnant as rising 3 y/o
• What should the farmers note in their aim?

  Additional feed costsIf yearling heifer in-calf rates are less than 70% then there may not be any benefits
• All heifers that enter the herd should calve over no more than 42 days, this ensures the main herd will have a calving duration of 43-63 days.
• What does utilizing restricted heifer joining periods do?

  Tightens the calving duration in the main herd
• Give 3 advantages of calving heifers at 2 y/o vs. 3 y/o.

  Additional calf in lifetime, get selected for more calving, GHG thing
• Give disadvantages of calving heifers at 2 y/o vs. 3 y/o.

  Heifers might've not reached puberty, dystocia, extra managing, more feed, hard to get pregnant at 3rd mating
• What's a target LW at mating for Angus?

  60%