Selecting the right replacement heifer feed ration is crucial to your heifer’s success in milk production. There are many aspects to consider, including the nutritional requirements, the cost per pound of gain, and monitoring growth. This article will help you make an informed decision on the right replacement heifer feed ration. It will also teach you how to choose the best replacement heifer feed ration for your particular needs.
Contents
Nutritional requirements
The nutrient content of the replacement heifer feed ration must meet the nutritional needs of a growing heifer. The nutrient content of the ration must be proportionate to the age and weight of the heifer. The ration must be formulated to meet these nutritional needs. Typically, the ration must contain more than one percent of each mineral. However, the ration must be balanced in terms of energy and protein.
The replacement heifer’s bodyweight should be around 60-65 percent of its mature weight before breeding season. The ADG should be constant throughout the post-weaning period, and the diet should contain a minimum of 1.5 lb of crude protein. It should also contain 65% of digestible nutrients. The ration should also contain adequate energy to support the growth rate of the heifer during the breeding season.
Costs
The cost of raising replacement heifers is at an all-time high. A medium-framed, fall-90 weaned heifer costs $656 to produce. The total cost of raising a replacement heifer is $646, which includes pro jected costs of conception to weaning, $150 for breeding, and $88 for a pregnancy check. The time value of money is accounted for in fifty eight dollars of this total, making the replacement heifer production cost-efficient.
The student visited all participating herds and obtained limited information. In each visit, the student would estimate the cost of raising a young heifer. The farmer was asked to estimate the total cost of rearing the young stock, not looking up prices in their recording systems or consulting other sources. The resulting estimates were the total costs of rearing a replacement heifer. The cost of raising a replacement heifer is therefore high, but the benefits of the replacement ration are great.
Cost per lb of gain
The cost per lb of gain is approximately $0.96 per pound of gain. If you graze heifers for 4.1 months, you can save about $50 to $80 per head on feed costs. A typical heifer costs between $30 and $80 to breed, and feed costs make up about 60 to 70 percent of that cost. Adding weight to heifers is not profitable unless you can compensate for pregnancy costs.
The heifer development cost should be factored into your business plan, if you have a profitable cow/calf enterprise. Feed costs have been increasing steadily in recent years. Fortunately, many by-products of the farming industry are relatively cheap. By-products of distillers grain are a cheap alternative to corn but have not been studied as heifer feed resources. Crop residue management strategies also have a significant impact on the cost of replacement heifer feed.
Monitoring growth
When considering what to include in a replacement heifer’s feed ration, monitoring growth is an essential aspect of raising healthy, productive heifers. It is also a helpful way to determine if the heifer’s rearing costs are in line with the results. Additionally, it can ensure future production is not compromised by poor management or nutrition. Here are some tips for monitoring growth in heifers:
Using a weight-based system for feeding a replacement heifer is a good way to monitor the animal’s growth. Using a BCS to monitor growth is especially important before calving, because excess body fat can decrease fertility at rebreeding and reduce milk production. A BCS score should not drop below one BCS per month after calving. This is the key to a successful replacement heifer development program.
Mineral supplementation
The correct mineral supplementation in the replacement heifer feed ration is critical for good reproduction, milk production, and animal health. The amount and quality of feedstubs and forages can provide much of the required minerals. However, some minerals are not present in sufficient amounts in the feeds. The mineral supplement should provide the mineral deficiencies and support the balanced feed ration. Listed below are some of the benefits of mineral supplementation in the replacement heifer feed ration.
To optimize the minerals in the diet, cows grazed on rich small grains pastures should receive mineral mixes. Cattle that have adequate water intake should be fed mineral mixes containing calcium and magnesium. During dry weather, voluntary intake of minerals drops to almost zero. Under normal conditions, cows should consume between 0.2 and 0.25 pounds of minerals per day. Most mineral supplements are designed to allow voluntary consumption of 0.2 – 0.25 pounds per day.
