A six part presentation series discussing management strategies surrounding beef heifer development.
Most beef producers replace 10-20% of their mature cows each year with heifers. The unique challenge that each cow/calf producer is faced with is that they are anticipating the future biological and economic performance of their herd for perhaps the next decade when replacement heifers are selected. Thus, each management decision made during the development phase of a beef replacement heifer will impact profitability for years to come.
In the six video presentations that follow, OSU Extension Beef Specialist Steve Boyles details management strategies and considerations as replacement heifers are bred for, selected, developed, bred themselves, and ultimately re-bred for the first time.
In this first of six sessions on Beef Heifer Development, Dr. Boyles discusses the basics of successfully developing goals for replacement beef heifer and as well as whole herd performance. Find a PDF version of this session linked here.
In this second of six sessions on Beef Heifer Development, the attention turns to the importance of sire selection and planned matings prior to heifers even being selected as potential replacements. Find a PDF version of this session linked here.
In this third of six sessions on Beef Heifer Development, Dr. Boyles discusses criteria to consider for selecting heifers at weaning time and beyond. Find a PDF version of this session linked here.
This fourth of six sessions on Beef Heifer Development focuses on heifer puberty, and management strategies during the growing phase of beef heifer development. Find a PDF version of this session linked here.
In this fifth of six sessions on Beef Heifer Development, Dr. Boyles discusses management strategies that should be considered during the breeding phase of beef heifer development. Find a PDF version of this session linked here.
In this sixth and final session on Beef Heifer Development, the discusses turns to what is perhaps the most difficult time to get a beef female bred . . . that being at re-breeding after the birth of the heifer’s first calf. Find a PDF version of this session linked here.
Also, find information on some additional tools for beef heifer selection linked here in PDF.
For more information on beef heifer development, you may contact OSU Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Steve Boyles at (614) 292-7669.