Most heifers will reach puberty and be bred by 12 to 14 months of age and will be between 55% and 65% of their mature weight when they first begin to exhibit estrous cycles.
What is the youngest age a heifer can get pregnant?
This requires that heifers become pregnant for the first time at 12 to 15 months of age assuming a gestation period of slightly less than 9.5 months (280 to 285 days) and accounting for more than 2 months variation in the birth date of heifers selected to serve as replace- ments.
An immature rumen cannot properly digest grass. After weaning we recommend that you separate the bull calves from the heifers; she can become pregnant after 5-6 months of age.
What age should a heifer have her first calf?
Historically, heifers were first bred at 2 yr of age, but as beef production systems have become more intensive over the last few decades, more and more producers have bred their heifers as yearlings to calve first at 2 yr of age.
Timing of Pregnancy Test Pregnancy can be detected in cows as early as 30 days using ultrasound and blood tests. For cows to be identified as pregnant utilizing the palpation method, cows often need to be at least 35-50 days pregnant.
Can a 9 month old heifer be bred?
Usually it’s best to wait until they are at least 15 months of age before breeding. Even though the early maturing breeds do reach puberty by the time they are around 7 to 9 months of age, it is best to wait until they are around 13 to 15 months of age before you can breed them.
What age can a bull calf breed?
The breeding ability of bulls usually is at its peak about 36 months of age, and it declines after 5 or 6 years of age. An extra calf crop can be sired by using bulls as yearlings.
How long does a heifer stay in heat?
The average duration of standing heat is 15 to 18 hours, but heat duration may vary from 8 to 30 hours among cows. An estrous cow usually stands to be mounted 20 to 55 times during her estrous period. Each mount lasts three to seven seconds. Factors that affect expression of heat are discussed in a later section.
Will a bull mount a pregnant cow?
Seven of nine pregnant cows at oestrus stood willingly to be mounted by a bull. … True oestrus begins when the female assumes the mating stance so that the male may mount and copulate. It does not normally occur during pregnancy in farm animals, although it is known to occur sporadically in cattle.
How old does a longhorn heifer have to be to breed?
How soon can you breed a cow after calving?
It takes at least 30 days after calving for a cow’s reproductive tract to return to normal. Therefore, some cows can be bred starting 45-60 days after calving. Your veterinarian should palpate the reproductive tract of each cow as soon after 30 days after calving as possible to make sure the cow is ready to breed.
Can you breed a bull back to his daughter?
How far along is my cow pregnant?
Palpation ” Rectal palpation is the traditional method. Indications of pregnancy can be detected as early as 35 days ” and definitely by 45 days ” by feeling the uterus, ovaries and uterine arteries through the rectal wall.
What weight should heifers be to breed?
We would like for her to weigh at least 65% of her mature weight at first breeding, or at least 780 pounds. This “target weight” is important because if heifers are better developed, they will cycle and breed better.
How can you tell when a heifer is in heat?
Can a bull breed at 1 year old?
Overall, bulls reach puberty between the ages of 9 and 10 months. … However, just because the bull is capable of breeding before reaching his first birthday doesn‘t mean it’s a good idea. Bulls aged 2 years and up have increased fertility.
Will bulls mate with the same cow twice?
All this is based on the shocking scientific discovery that a bull will never mate with the same cow twice. … Once copulated with, goes the theory, a New Cow becomes an Old Cow, and a bull would rather end up on a bun at McDonald’s than touch her again.
Can a 14 month old bull breed?
Cattle breeding season Throughout the breeding season, the yearling bull should continue to gain 2 to 2.5 pounds per day. Hand feeding the bull 10 to 22 pounds grain (14% CP) each day will support this growth rate. … The accepted rule of thumb is that a bull can breed one cow per month of age.
How often do heifers come into heat?
After puberty, a heifer continues to have regular estrous cycles every 21 days (the normal range is every 18 to 24 days). The estrous cycle in cattle is complex and regulated by several hormones and organs (see Figure 1).
How do you tell if a cow has been bred?
Look for the crooked tail. This is probably the one of the best ways to tell if a cow has been bred: A crooked tail, or a tail that is held out in an odd angle than normal, will be displayed by the cow or heifer for about 24 to 48 hours after being serviced by the bull.
How long do you leave a bull in with cows?
Leave bull B alone with the cows for at least two weeks, and for the rest of the breeding season if his body condition stays above a score of 5. It is critical to favor this young bull during his first breeding season. Turn bull A back out with the cows after bull B has had his two-week learning experience.
Why do female cows jump on each other?
Bulling is a behaviour seen in cattle when one mounts another, usually when one or the other is a female in oestrus (on heat); “bulling” is commonly used as a term for a female in oestrus. Female cattle in oestrus may mount any adult cattle, especially a bull (fertile male) if one is present, but they will also mount …
What are the signs a cow is about to give birth?
Signs in the weeks leading up to calving include udder development, relaxation and swelling of the vulva (springing), and a thick mucus discharge from the vulva. Relaxation of the pelvic ligaments and strutting of the teats may be observed in some cows in the 24 hours leading up to labor.
What’s the average lifespan of a cow?
While the natural lifespan of a cow is 15-20 years, most dairy cows are not permitted to live more than five. They’re sent to slaughter soon after their production levels drop.
Why is second breeding of heifers difficult?
The heifer will not cycle again until blood energy levels are high enough to meet all her requirements. “Low blood energy, as a result of poor body condition at calving, generally is the cause of re- breeding failure,” Evans concludes. … Therefore, many heifers go into the breeding season with reduced intakes.
What is the best age to breed a heifer?
Most heifers will reach puberty and be bred by 12 to 14 months of age and will be between 55% and 65% of their mature weight when they first begin to exhibit estrous cycles.