How to Raise Replacement Beef Heifers

Many ranchers consider it more economical to buy replacement heifers than to raise them. It is however possible to balance costs and revenues, so as to optimize profits. Ranchers who examine the breeding records of their existing herd can choose superior replacement heifers from the animals that have been weaned. The farmer needs to feed these heifers a high quality diet and, by combining sound genes with optimal feeding, he can ensure that he will have top quality animals as replacements and that his mature herd will become progressively more valuable.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding records from the existing heard
  • Pastures of legumes, ryegrass and rye
  • Fertilizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Examine the breeding records of the existing herd. Look specifically at the performance of the various stud bulls. Offspring of these animals are likely to have inherited a similar genetic makeup and will themselves produce superior calves. Choose only those heifers that were sired out of total performance bulls as your replacement heifers.

    • 2

      Look closely at the mothers of each heifer. Choose heifers born to cows that have been identified as meeting the ranch's criteria for low-cost beef production.

    • 3

      Select heifers that were born during the first two months of the calving season and further select the heaviest of these animals, as they will be the optimum weight required from replacement heifers at puberty. These heifers will typically be out of the most fertile cows, which were the first to conceive during the breeding season.

    • 4

      Transfer the weaned calves to pastures of legume, ryegrass and rye.

    • 5

      Fertilize these pastures optimally to ensure high quality crops for the growing heifers to feed on.

    • 6

      Supply warm, dry barns in which the heifers can sleep and take shelter during poor weather.

    • 7

      Keep the heifers in groups as they are social animals and may become stressed if not allowed contact with others. Leave the heifers to feed in the pastures where they are also exposed to ample sunlight.

    • 8

      Merge the replacement heifers into the mature herd at the age of 15 months. This approach will allow you to raise replacement heifers for less than it costs to purchase these animals. Due to the careful selection criteria, the genetic makeup of these replacement heifers is superior and they will add considerable value to the existing herd.