Building better heifers: here's a rundown of four heifer development programs

摘要

Properly developed heifers, raised or purchased, pay for themselves - with higher percent pregnant, greater calving ease, better breedback and longer productivity in the cow herd. Here's a sampling of several university and commercial programs. Nebraska - Heartland Cattle Co. is a heifer development and research center six miles southeast of McCook. With a 4,000-head drylot yard capacity, Heartland, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, does both custom and contractual heifer development. They take weaned heifers through the pre-breeding period, breed them AI, and then ship them home 45-90 days pregnant. "Our custom program develops and AI's heifers that return to their home ranch," says general manager Patsy Houghton. "Our contractual program focuses on purchase, development, AI and packaging of heifers to meet customers' specifications for breed, genetics, mature size, service sire and calving dates."