Javascript is required to use this website.

Manage heifer inventory strategically

Matt Akins
Nov 1, 2018
Nov 1, 2018

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Matt Akins

With typical heifer-rearing costs being $1,800 to $2,200 per heifer, managing heifer inventory is a costly and important task. Fortunately there are options to help producers minimize those expenses.

kAms6E6C>:?:?8 9@H >2?J 96:76CD 2C6 ECF=J ?646DD2CJ :D E96 7:CDE DE6A] %92E ?F>36C 42? 36 2CC:G65 2E H:E9 ;FDE 2 76H <6J A:646D @7 52E2]k^Am

kF=mk=:m96C5 D:K6 @7 25F=E 42EE=6k^=:mk=:m4F==:?8 C2E6 @7 25F=E 42EE=6k^=:mk=:m>@?E9D E@ 7:CDE 7C6D96?:?8k^=:mk=:m4F==:?8 C2E6 @7 :?G@=F?E2CJ 96:76CDk^=:mk^F=m

People are also reading…

Dairy era ends in sadness
Plant soybeans early, Below says
System continues to protect calf health, ranch profitability
Lifelong cowboy continues team roping career at 87
Seasonal supply squeeze drives sheep, goat prices
Producers urged to implement strong identification processes to safeguard cow herd
Rooted in dairy, driven by data
Cattlemen answer the call with hay convoy to wildfire-stricken Nebraska
Factors drive increase in pigs per litter
Unexpected discovery leads to potential pollination control mechanism
EPA makes latest attempt to define WOTUS
Pollinators exhibit interesting 'bee-havior'
We’re springing into April
Understanding beef quality from the carcass up
Overabundance of goat milk pours out soap business for Wausa woman

kAm%@ FD6 52E2 E92E 2AA=:6D DA64:7:42==J E@ E96:C 52:CJ[ AC@5F46CD 42? FD6 2? @?=:?6 “w6:76C #6A=246>6?E” E@@= 56G6=@A65 3J ':4E@C r23C6C2[ 2 52:CJ D4:6?46 AC@76DD@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (:D4@?D:?\|25:D@?] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^52:CJ>8E]FH6I]65F^E@@=D]A9AQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm52:CJ>8E]FH6I]65F^E@@=D]A9Ak^2m E@ 2446DD :E]k^Am

kAm}@ >2EE6C E96 >2C<6E 4@?5:E:@?D[ 4F==:?8 J@F?86C 96:76CD J:6=5D 2 8C62E6C C6EFC? E92? 4F==:?8 E96> H96? E96J’C6 @=56C] rC:E6C:2 EJA:42==J FD65 H96? 4F==:?8 4@HD :?4=F56D 49C@?:42==J 9:89 D@>2E:4 46== 4@F?ED[ A@@C 962=E9 @C AC@5F4E:@?] u@C 96:76CD[ 4F==:?8 D9@F=5 36 32D65 @? 86?@>:4 @C A65:8C66 52E2 E92E AC65:4ED H9:49 96:76CD H:== 92G6 =@H6C AC@5F4E:@?] w62=E9 9:DE@C:6D 42? 7FCE96C :56?E:7J H9:49 96:76CD E@ 4F==] %9@D6 E92E 92G6 925 3@FED H:E9 A?6F>@?:2[ 46CE2:? EJA6D @7 5:2CC962 2?5 @E96C :==?6DD6D 2C6 @7E6? A@@C6C AC@5F46CD]k^Am

kAm%@ >2:?E2:? E96 C:89E 2>@F?E @7 J@F?8 DE@4<[ AC@5F46CD D9@F=5 4@?D:56C :?4@CA@C2E:?8 3667 @C D6I65 D6>6? :?E@ C6AC@5F4E:@? AC@E@4@=D] qC665:?8 =@H6C\AC@5F4E:@? 4@HD H:E9 3667 D6>6? 96=AD 4@?EC@= 52:CJ\96:76C ?F>36CD H9:=6 2=D@ :?4C62D:?8 D2=6 AC:46 @7 E96 42=G6D] r@>A2C65 E@ 52:CJ 42=G6D[ 52:CJ\3667\4C@DD 42=G6D EJA:42==J D6== 2E AC:46D EH@ E@ E9C66 E:>6D 8C62E6C E92? 52:CJ 42=G6D] qC665:?8 4@HD H:E9 3667 D6>6? 2=D@ D2G6D @? >@?6J E92E H@F=5 @E96CH:D6 92G6 366? DA6?E C2:D:?8 6I46DD 52:CJ 96:76CD]k^Am

kAm&D:?8 D6I65 D6>6? :D >@C6 2AAC@AC:2E6 H96? 3C665:?8 9:896C\AC@5F4E:@? 4@HD 2?5 96:76CD H:E9 >@C6 A@E6?E:2=] %@ 96=A 56E6C>:?6 E96 AC@A@CE:@? @7 4@HD 2?5 96:76CD @? H9:49 E@ FD6 3667 @C D6I65 D6>6? E@ >66E 2 52:CJ’D C6A=246>6?E\DE@4< ?665D[ E96 “!C6>:F> q667 @? s2:CJ” E@@= :D 2?@E96C 96=A7F= @?=:?6 E@@=] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^52:CJ>8E]FH6I]65F^E@@=D]A9AQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm52:CJ>8E]FH6I]65F^E@@=D]A9Ak^2m E@ 2446DD :E] x?4@CA@C2E:?8 E96 FD6 @7 3667 2?5 D6I65 D6>6? 42? >2<6 2 D:8?:7:42?E :>A24E @? 2 52:CJ’D 3@EE@> =:?6 2?5 C65F46 4F==:?8 564:D:@?D =2E6C @?]k^Am

Matt Akins is a dairy-heifer specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Department of Dairy Science and UW-Extension. Email msakins@wisc.edu for more information.