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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 62
If undernourished, poorly grown heifers do become pregnant and carry their calf to full term there is the possibility that they may have problems calving as two-year olds. A difficult birth can put the calf and also the heifer's life in danger not to mention the possibility of damage to the future reproductive ability of the heifer.
If you have cows and heifers, keep the heifers in a separate pen or pasture. Heifers are unable to compete with older animals for feed and remember their nutritional requirements – especially for protein and extra energy while growing – are much greater than those of mature cows.
How to figure out a feed ration for heifers:
Hay is the usual basis for a feed ration if heifers are not on pasture. If they eat as much hay as they can this will meet their requirements. They usually eat 2.2 to 2.4% of their body weight each daily. If a heifer weighs 700 lbs this is 15.4 pounds of hay a day. A mix of grass hay and alfalfa usually has enough protein. For best feed consumption split the ration and feed morning and evening. If you do not have alfalfa then give 0.75 to 1.25 pounds of a protein supplement per heifer per day.
BREEDING TIME FOR HEIFERS:
Heifers should be bred at around the age of 15 months and will calve the following year as two-year olds. Heifers can be bred at any time after she has become sexually mature and has regular heat cycles. Most heifers reach puberty at the age of 12 months however some will cycle earlier whereas others later, especially if they are slow maturing. You should be able to see some evidence of sexual maturity as heifers grow up, they start having heat cycles and mount and "ride" one another.
Heifer fertility is based on a combination of both nutrition and genetic factors. Large framed or slow growing heifers generally reach puberty later than medium sized, fast maturing heifers. The genetics of the sire (father) and dam (mother) play a major role in a heifer's age at puberty and ability to conceive.
Fast growing, early maturing bulls – which tend to have above average scrotal size - sire daughters that reach puberty sooner than heifers sired by slow growing, late maturing bulls that often have a smaller scrotal circumference. Heifers from early maturing cows also tend to be more fertile than daughters of late maturing cows.
There are many advantages of having heifers reach puberty early. The younger a heifer starts to cycle, the better her chance of becoming pregnant and calving by the time they reach 24 months. THE AGE OF PUBERTY IS HIGHLY HERITABLE AND THIS IS AN IMPORTAT TRAIT TO LOOK FOR.
Heifers must be cycling before you put them with a bull or try to breed them by artificial insemination. They need to reach puberty ahead of the breeding seasons. SOME HEIFERS SHOW SIGNS
If you have cows and heifers, keep the heifers in a separate pen or pasture. Heifers are unable to compete with older animals for feed and remember their nutritional requirements – especially for protein and extra energy while growing – are much greater than those of mature cows.
How to figure out a feed ration for heifers:
Hay is the usual basis for a feed ration if heifers are not on pasture. If they eat as much hay as they can this will meet their requirements. They usually eat 2.2 to 2.4% of their body weight each daily. If a heifer weighs 700 lbs this is 15.4 pounds of hay a day. A mix of grass hay and alfalfa usually has enough protein. For best feed consumption split the ration and feed morning and evening. If you do not have alfalfa then give 0.75 to 1.25 pounds of a protein supplement per heifer per day.
BREEDING TIME FOR HEIFERS:
Heifers should be bred at around the age of 15 months and will calve the following year as two-year olds. Heifers can be bred at any time after she has become sexually mature and has regular heat cycles. Most heifers reach puberty at the age of 12 months however some will cycle earlier whereas others later, especially if they are slow maturing. You should be able to see some evidence of sexual maturity as heifers grow up, they start having heat cycles and mount and "ride" one another.
Heifer fertility is based on a combination of both nutrition and genetic factors. Large framed or slow growing heifers generally reach puberty later than medium sized, fast maturing heifers. The genetics of the sire (father) and dam (mother) play a major role in a heifer's age at puberty and ability to conceive.
Fast growing, early maturing bulls – which tend to have above average scrotal size - sire daughters that reach puberty sooner than heifers sired by slow growing, late maturing bulls that often have a smaller scrotal circumference. Heifers from early maturing cows also tend to be more fertile than daughters of late maturing cows.
There are many advantages of having heifers reach puberty early. The younger a heifer starts to cycle, the better her chance of becoming pregnant and calving by the time they reach 24 months. THE AGE OF PUBERTY IS HIGHLY HERITABLE AND THIS IS AN IMPORTAT TRAIT TO LOOK FOR.
Heifers must be cycling before you put them with a bull or try to breed them by artificial insemination. They need to reach puberty ahead of the breeding seasons. SOME HEIFERS SHOW SIGNS