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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 64
CONCEPTION RATE
The first heat when a heifer reaches puberty may not be as fertile as later heats. Conception rate is about 20% greater at third heat than at puberty.
WHEN TO BREED
Even though some heifers reach puberty as early as 6 – 8 months you do not want a heifer to calve before the age of 24 months. This is because they are not physically large enough to handle pregnancy and calving.
It takes 9 months of gestation to develop the calf after the heifer becomes pregnant. Keep a target weight in mind for breeding and calving this will help you to feed properly. Heifers should be at least 65% of mature body weight by breeding age. If a heifer was born in February she needs to weigh at least 65% of her eventual mature weight and have fertile heat cycles by May of the next year this is so she can be bred to calve in February the following year.
The time of year to breed heifers depends on the age of the heifers and what season you want calves to arrive. If you have mild weather you may want to calve in early spring to take advantage of summer pastures with cows that have large growing calves. If spring weather is stormy or cold you may wish to calve after the bad weather has past, unless you have a good calving barn and shelter during stormy weather. To calve in February, breed during May. To calve in March, breed in June. To calve in April, breed in July.
You may prefer to have your calves born in the autumn to take advantage of higher prices for weaned calves in the following spring. This is workable if you have mild winter or a lot of good feed for cows nursing calves through winter. A lactating cow and cold weather require a lot of feed. Or you may prefer to have them calve in January so that the calves are bigger by fall or big enough to wean early and sell before the excess of calves that go to market in late autumn.
A cow can reproduce at any time of the year, but bear in mind a cow must recover from calving before she will rebreed. This recovery period takes anywhere between 40 – 60 days.
Estrous Cycle:
After reaching puberty or after having recovered from calving, the cow/heifer begins her estrous cycle and comes into heat on average every 21 days. However cows or heifers may cycle 18 – 14 days.
The first heat when a heifer reaches puberty may not be as fertile as later heats. Conception rate is about 20% greater at third heat than at puberty.
WHEN TO BREED
Even though some heifers reach puberty as early as 6 – 8 months you do not want a heifer to calve before the age of 24 months. This is because they are not physically large enough to handle pregnancy and calving.
It takes 9 months of gestation to develop the calf after the heifer becomes pregnant. Keep a target weight in mind for breeding and calving this will help you to feed properly. Heifers should be at least 65% of mature body weight by breeding age. If a heifer was born in February she needs to weigh at least 65% of her eventual mature weight and have fertile heat cycles by May of the next year this is so she can be bred to calve in February the following year.
The time of year to breed heifers depends on the age of the heifers and what season you want calves to arrive. If you have mild weather you may want to calve in early spring to take advantage of summer pastures with cows that have large growing calves. If spring weather is stormy or cold you may wish to calve after the bad weather has past, unless you have a good calving barn and shelter during stormy weather. To calve in February, breed during May. To calve in March, breed in June. To calve in April, breed in July.
You may prefer to have your calves born in the autumn to take advantage of higher prices for weaned calves in the following spring. This is workable if you have mild winter or a lot of good feed for cows nursing calves through winter. A lactating cow and cold weather require a lot of feed. Or you may prefer to have them calve in January so that the calves are bigger by fall or big enough to wean early and sell before the excess of calves that go to market in late autumn.
A cow can reproduce at any time of the year, but bear in mind a cow must recover from calving before she will rebreed. This recovery period takes anywhere between 40 – 60 days.
Estrous Cycle:
After reaching puberty or after having recovered from calving, the cow/heifer begins her estrous cycle and comes into heat on average every 21 days. However cows or heifers may cycle 18 – 14 days.