Comparison of Two Heifer Development Systems on a Commercial Nebraska Ranch

Authors

Tim Loy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Don C. Adams, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Dillon Feuz, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jacqueline A. Musgrave, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Burke Teichert, Rex Ranch, Ashby, NE

Date of this Version

January 2003

Comments

Published in 2003 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2002 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A trial was conducted at a commercial Nebraska ranch to evaluate the effectiveness of a bred heifer development program that minimized the use of harvested feed. Two management systems were imposed on 505 March-calving bred heifers during the winter before the calving season, one including the use of hay (CON), and one relying solely on winter range and supplementation (TRT). During the winter period, heifers in the TRT system lost less condition and had similar weight gains to CON. Two-year-old pregnancy rates did not differ between systems. A partial budget analysis of the two development programs indicated that the TRT system could decrease costs relative to the CON system.