SAE:

 Developing Replacement Heifers

Description:

Developing beef replacement heifers requires considerable land area, usually at least 1 acre per three head, some stored feed such as hay for winter or drought conditions and considerable animal science skills in animal health and forage production. A typical operation would be developing your own heifers or developing heifers on a contract basis (cost per lb./gain) for other cattle producers.

Since most beef replacement heifers in Georgia are weaned in late summer or fall a typical backgrounding operation begins in the fall of the year on Fescue in North Georgia or winter annuals in South Georgia and ends in April. Some supplemental grain and hay are needed to maintain an average daily gain of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs. per day. A target weight is usually to have heifers weighing from 650-750 lbs. at 13-15 months of age. Heifers can be sold as heavy feeder heifers or they can be bred at this age and weight.