 Breeding Heifers Mark Carson Reproductive Specialist, EastGen

Outline of Presentation  Losses Due to Delayed First Calving  Goals of a Heifer Program  When to Breed  Insemination Tools  Genetic Consideration  Other Consideration  Summary

Losses due to Delayed First Calving Herd Calving in 25 Heifers per Year  Reducing from 26 to 24 months  Average Feed Cost $1.97 per day  Average Non-Feed Cost $1.32 per day  Average Loss  $200 per Heifer  $5000 per Year  Plus 4 Less Heifers Generated per Year

Ideal Lactation Curve by Age

Measuring Your Performance  Goals at Breeding  Average Age at First Calving 24 Months  + 60% Conception Rate in Heifers  + 60% Insemination Rate in Heifers  + 36% Pregnancy Rate in Heifers  Goals at First Calving  <7% Stillbirth Rate on 1 st Lactation Cows  <5% Hard Calving

When to Breed a Heifer  Breeding Recommendations  Age = 13 months  Weight = 875 lb (396 kg)  Wither Height = 50 in (127 cm)  Calving Recommendations  Age at first calving = months  Weight = 1250 lb (567 kg) post-calving  Wither Height = 55 in (140 cm)

Insemination Tools

 Activity Monitoring  Timed A.I. Protocols  Other Breeding Tools

Activity Monitoring  Activity Monitoring in Heifer’s Becoming Popular Option  Can Help to Lower Age at First Calving  24 Hour Coverage, Good for Facilities where Heifer are Out of Site.

Activity Monitoring  Recent Survey Done on CanWest Customers found that 42% of Activity Monitoring Systems were on Heifers  Lack of Time and Desire to Improve Performance were the Main Reason for Installing the System

Timed A.I. for Heifers  Timed A.I. Solutions for Problem Breeders  Help Reach the Goal of 24 Months  Discussion Options with your Herd Veterinarian

Other Insemination Tools  Tail Chalking  Heatmount Detectors/Kamar Heat Detectors

Genetic Considerations for Heifers

Genetics  Maximizing Genetic Gain  Calving Ease  Sexed Semen

Maximize Genetic Gain  Breed All Heifers by AI  Herd Bulls can cost you  ~400 kg of milk (Overton and Sischo, 2005)  Inability to Control Matings (Inbreeding)  Unknown Calving Ease of Unproven Sire  Mate Heifers to Maximize Genetic Gain  Possible Gains from Using Genomics

Calving Ease  Hard Calving have Devastating Impact  Effects Milk Production  2 kg/day less milk  Effects Fertility  Average Open for 28 Days Longer  Effects the Health of the Calf  Produce 700 kg less milk

Pregnancy Rate by Calving Ease DHI Calving EASE Score Herd #1Herd #2Herd #3 Unassisted24%27%20% Easy25%23%18% Hard17%13%10% Difference (Hard – Unassisted) 7%14%10% *All Herds Maintain a 60% Insemination Rate

Pregnancy Rate by Calving Ease DHI Calving EASE Score Herd #1Herd #2Herd #3 Unassisted24%27%20% Easy25%23%18% Hard17%13%10% Difference (Hard – Unassisted) 7%14%10% *All Herds Maintain a 60% Insemination Rate

Sexed Semen  Commonly used in Heifers  ~90% Heifers will Result  Used to Grow Herd Internally

 Other Considerations

AI Breeding  Have Appropriate Handling Facility  AI Equipment near Heifer’s  Semen Tank  Thawing Equipment  Clean AI Breeding tools

Open Checking Heifers  Routinely Check Heifers for Pregnancy  Routinely Move Heifers into Breeding Group  Take Action on Open Heifers

Record and Monitor Results

Measuring Your Performance  Goals at Breeding  Average Age at First Calving 24 Months  + 60% Conception Rate in Heifers  + 60% Insemination Rate in Heifers  + 36% Pregnancy Rate in Heifers  Goals at First Calving  <7% Stillbirth Rate on 1 st Lactation Cows  <5% Hard Calving

Thank You!