What weight should a heifer be at calving?
What weight should a heifer be at calving?
winter: heifers should be 280kg to 320kg at weaning, which means that you will need them gaining a minimum of 60kg to 80kg over their first winter if you want them to reach the target bull- ing weight at 15 months.
How much should a dairy heifer weigh before breeding?
Heifers should reach 55% of mature body weight (often 750 to 800 lbs for Holsteins) and 90% of mature structural growth (often 48 to 50 inches for Holsteins) by the desired breeding age of 13 to 15 months.
Why it is important for dairy heifers to reach their target weights?
Benefits of growing heifers well Heifers that reach their desired target weights at various stages of their growth will: Reach puberty earlier. Get in calf quicker. Have less calving difficulties.
At what age can a heifer calf?
Breeds have a dramatic effect on age at puberty in beef heifers. The range in age at puberty based on breed can be from 6 months to 18 or 20 months of age. With the goal to have heifers calve at 24 months, heifers need to be bred by 14 or 15 months of age.
What weight are heifers?
See below and find out whether your heifers are on target to get them calving down at two years of age….The perfect weight to breed heifers from.
| Breed | Weight at 15 Months (Kg) |
|---|---|
| Charolais X | 430 |
| Hereford X | 370 |
| Angus X | 370 |
| Other Breeds | 390 – 450 |
What is the optimum weight for a Jersey heifer at 9 months?
Jersey Heifer Growth
| Age (months) | Body Weight (pounds) | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 335 | 412 |
| 9 | 373 | 436 |
| 10 | 391 | 483 |
| 11 | 428 | 499 |
What is the best age to breed a first calf heifer?
Usually it’s best to wait until they are at least 15 months of age before breeding. Even though the early maturing breeds do reach puberty by the time they are around 7 to 9 months of age, it is best to wait until they are around 13 to 15 months of age before you can breed them.
How much does a Jersey calf weigh at birth?
60 pounds
Jersey calves average 60 pounds at birth, with a range in birth weight from 42 to 72 pounds reported in a recent California calf study. A mere 3% of the calf ‘s initial weight is body fat and is quickly expended by the calf to generate body heat.
How much should a 3 month old calf weigh?
Average Calf Weights by age (Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss)
| Age | Holstein (weight in lbs) | Jersey (weight in lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 161-189 | 122-146 |
| 3 months | 211-234 | 155-177 |
| 4 months | 258-284 | 183-217 |
| 5 months | 311-339 | 233-278 |
How much does a 2 year old heifer weigh?
A 2 year old cow averages about 1,100 pounds. Expect to see a 100 to 125 pound weight gain from 1 year old to 2 years. Cows of this age are considered full grown and ready to breed or produce a calf, depending on whether they are male or female.
Is there a target weight for a heifer?
It is natural to have variation in a mob, and studies have shown that some healthy heifers may be 15% lighter than their peers. Weight-for-age targets (highlighted) for animals of different mature liveweights, with guide weights for other ages. Before heifers move properties, the group should meet their target weight-for age.
Why do heifers have to be reared at first calving?
Liveweight at first mating and calving will have an impact on the reproductive performance and milk production potential of heifers. Heifers must be reared to achieve their liveweight targets otherwise their first calving will be delayed, liveweight at calving will be too low and fertility during the next mating period reduced.
What’s the standard weight of a beef cow?
In beef cattle, the standard reference weight is based on an animal with 28% fat (NRC, 1996). Animals of different breeds and genetic lines may reach the standard body composition at very different body weights. For example, the mature size of a Holstein cow varies from about 1400 to 1800 pounds.
How can I find out the liveweight of my cows?
Obtain a ‘breeding value trait report’ from your herd recording provider (e.g. CRV, LIC). From this report calculate the average Lwt BV using the following equation: Average herd liveweight can be determined by weighing a cross section of the mature herd.
