Navigating replacement female selection in herd rebuilding

By Scout Nelson

Deciding whether to retain heifers born to first-calf heifers is a crucial choice for beef producers aiming to rebuild their cow herds. In a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute's experts delved into this complex topic, offering their perspectives on how to approach this critical decision.

K-State veterinarian Brad White emphasized the importance of strategic planning, stating, “I like to keep heifers born to first-calf heifers if they are born early in the breeding season and they are born to a mating that was genetically planned to create replacement females.” This approach ensures that the replacements contribute positively to the herd's genetic makeup and future productivity.

Echoing White's sentiment, veterinarian Bob Larson pointed out the value of selecting AI sires with both calving ease and strong maternal traits to produce viable replacement females. Meanwhile, nutritionist Phillip Lancaster highlighted the accelerated genetic progress that can be achieved by retaining daughters of the herd's youngest females.

He advised, “Take a look at the records and if that heifer is born to a proven cow line in terms of longevity and reproductive performance, that will help you make the decision about keeping the heifer calf that was born from a heifer in the herd.”

The discussion also touched on the significance of evaluating the replacement heifer's frame size, as veterinarian Brian Lubbers warned against retaining smaller-framed heifers born late in the breeding season due to potential calving difficulties.

“Some daughters born to calving ease sires may be predisposed to future calving difficulty due to their smaller frame size,” Larson added, underscoring the necessity of a balanced approach to selection.

This collective wisdom from K-State's Beef Cattle Institute underscores the nuanced nature of rebuilding a cow herd, pointing to genetic planning, the timing of birth, and the cow family's performance history as key factors in making informed decisions about heifer retention.

Photo Credit: kansas-state-university