Proper heifer development is important to get heifers bred but also to set them up to be productive cows that remain in the herd for many years to come. One of the first steps is to ensure heifers reach an appropriate target weight prior to breeding. Recommendations vary from 55% to 65% of mature bodyweight as the target weight prior to breeding. The best strategy will vary depending on the goals, resources, feed costs and marketing options for open heifers for the operation. In most cases, 65% is a good target.
If heifers will mature into 1,300-pound cows, they will need to weigh 845 pounds at 14-and-a-half months old. So if they are weaned at 7 months old and weigh 552 pounds, they will need to gain about 1.28 pounds from weaning to start of the breeding season.
Grazing heifers on cool-season annual grasses during the winter and early spring is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to develop heifers prior to breeding.
Feeding heifers hay or grazing them on dormant forage is another strategy some producers use. Supplementation may be required in these situations depending on hay or forage quality. To get the best results, hay should be analyzed at a lab that estimates total digestible nutrients (TDN) using a summative equation and neutral detergent fiber digestibility.
Below is an example looking at different supplementation strategies for heifers consuming hay that is 53% TDN and 9% crude protein (CP) on a dry matter basis. The list shows the projected average daily gain (ADG) when hay is fed free-choice with daily amounts per head of each feed. Actual performance may vary depending on weather and other conditions.
- ADG of 0.31 pound: no supplement, hay only
- ADG of 0.42 pound: 0.5 pound of a 38% protein tub
- ADG of 0.43 pound: 1 pound of a 32% protein liquid feed
- ADG of 1.28 pounds: 3.3 pounds of whole corn, 0.5 pound of soybean meal
- ADG of 1.28 pounds: 4.1 pounds of dried distillers grains
- ADG of 1.28 pounds: 7.5 pounds of a 20% protein cube (max 10% fiber)
The protein tub and liquid feed are designed for limited intake, and the heifers can’t eat enough to reach the ADG goal.
Don’t forget, after breeding, heifer development should continue so that heifers reach 85% of their mature weight prior to calving.
