Breeding-age Advice, Part I

Our tips for the month of August come from Vance Kells, DCHA South Central Regional Director and manager of Circle Bar Heifer Ranch LLC, a 10,000-head custom-rearing facility in western Kansas. During the month of August, we will be talking about breeding-age heifers. The first part of our series is on heifer nutrition and growth.

Nutrition for a good breeding heifer starts day 1. Colostrum equaling 10% of body weight should be fed in the first 4 hours of life. [For example, a 90-lb. calf should receive 4 quarts of colostrum.](1) Calves during the first 12 weeks can efficiently use 20-22% crude protein starters, and even growers (4-6 months) should have at least 18% protein and decent quality hay. The first 6 months of are the most efficient for building frame and efficient use of nutrients for growth.(2)

Protein rates in older heifers are also important. Between 6-9 months old - 15-16% protein is adequate; 9-13 months - 14-15%; and 13 months through freshening - 13.5-14%. Plenty of protein ensures that heifers will have the frame growth that they need to capably breed, calve and milk in the future. Target growth rate after 5 months old should be around 1.7 to 2.0 lbs. average daily gain. Weight checks should be performed routinely; ideally, at least every three months to make sure heifers are growing adequately. One should work with a nutritionist to help formulate rations and monitor heifer condition.

By 13 to 15 months of age, strive to achieve a weight for Holstein heifers of 750-825 pounds and a hip height of >48 inches (or 55% of body weight of mature cows in the herd). Heifers should be around a 2.5-3.0 body condition score at breeding on a 1-5 scale. Heifers that are allowed to get fat are harder to breed and don't transition as well at calving. (2)

Weight immediately precalving should be around 1,350 lbs, or 85% of the weight of a pregnant mature cow in the herd, with a body condition score of 3.5.

Works cited
1. Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Gold Standards
2. Susan Day, PhD, Land O' Lakes Purina Feed LLC
3. Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Gold Standards II - to be introduced at the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Aug. 19, 2010 (available on DCHA's website, Aug. 19)