How much should a dairy heifer weigh before breeding?
Heifers should reach 55% of mature body weight (often 750 to 800 lbs for Holsteins) and 90% of mature structural growth (often 48 to 50 inches for Holsteins) by the desired breeding age of 13 to 15 months.
What weight should heifers be to breed?
Most results indicate that we can develop heifers to 51%-58% of mature body weight and achieve very acceptable pregnancy rates. If your average cow weighs 1,390 lbs. (and many do), a heifer would need to weigh 904 lbs. at breeding in a traditional system, but only 709-806 lbs., according to the recent research.
Why it is important for dairy heifers to reach their target weights?
Benefits of growing heifers well Heifers that reach their desired target weights at various stages of their growth will: Reach puberty earlier. Get in calf quicker. Have less calving difficulties.
How much does a 6 month old Holstein heifer weigh?
Average Calf Weights by age (Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss)
| Age | Holstein (weight in lbs) | Jersey (weight in lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 months | 258-284 | 183-217 |
| 5 months | 311-339 | 233-278 |
| 6 months | 369-422 | 259-321 |
| 8 months | 468-530 | 335-412 |
How old should a heifer be before breeding?
Most heifers will reach puberty and be bred by 12 to 14 months of age and will be between 55% and 65% of their mature weight when they first begin to exhibit estrous cycles.
What is the optimum weight for a Jersey heifer at 9 months?
Jersey Heifer Growth
| Age (months) | Body Weight (pounds) | Withers Height (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 373 | 40 |
| 10 | 391 | 40 |
| 11 | 428 | 41 |
| 12 | 471 | 42 |
What is a reasonable target weight at breeding for a heifer with an expected mature weight of 1000 lbs?
A second “target weight” is to have bred heifers weigh 80- 85% (about 1,000 pounds on 1,200 mature weight cows) of their mature weight prior to first calving. They should be in a body condition score of 5 or 6. After these heifers calve, we should take care of their nutritional requirements.
What age do Brangus heifers breed?
14 months
Mature Brangus bulls generally weigh between 1,800 and 2,000 pounds, while mature females generally weigh around 1,100 to 1,200 pounds. Bulls mature by two years of age and are ready to go into service by 18 months. Heifers are ready to breed by 14 months of age and deliver their first calf at 24 months of age.
How much should a 1 year old heifer weigh?
Jersey Heifer Growth
| Age (months) | Body Weight (pounds) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93 | 108 |
| 2 | 122 | 146 |
| 3 | 155 | 177 |
| 4 | 183 | 217 |
How much does a 2 year old heifer weigh?
A 2 year old cow averages about 1,100 pounds. Expect to see a 100 to 125 pound weight gain from 1 year old to 2 years. Cows of this age are considered full grown and ready to breed or produce a calf, depending on whether they are male or female.
How long does it take to finish out a Holstein steer?
A target gain should be 2.4 to 2.6 pounds per day, reaching the 1,400 pound market weight in 18 months or less. With implants, steers can reach this weight in as little as 14 months. Once weaned and in the finishing phase, steers ideally should be fed a total mixed ration that’s 80 percent grain on a dry matter basis.
Should you keep a heifers first calf?
Heifer development is one of the most substantial expenses for beef cattle operations. Time quickly gets away when you’re a cow-calf operator, but it’s essential to keep the first calf heifers on track. Heifers conceiving early in their first breeding season will have increased lifetime production and efficiency.
What happens when rearing replacement heifers fails to achieve target weight?
Lower survival rates to third lactation and reduced milk yields are the consequences of failing to achieve the target weight for age when rearing replacement heifers. The maintenance sub index determines the appropriate target weight. Dairy Specialist George Ramsbottom outlines the calculations
What is the average weight of a heifer after calving?
After calving, heifers should weigh 85 to 90% of mature body weight (for Holsteins, 1,137 to 1,296 lbs) and should have achieved 95% of mature structural growth (for Holsteins, 52 to 55 inches tall at the withers).
What is the average age of first calving for dairy cows?
from the National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project (1991-92). Heifers in this survey had an average age at first calving of 27.0 ± 1.7 months. Recommended ranges represent the 50th to 67th percentile.
How much will my heifers need to grow?
This calculator is designed to work out what growth rate your heifers will need to achieve to meet their target. As a rule of thumb, growth rates of 0.6-0.8 kg/day are fairly easy to achieve from pasture alone.