Heifer Selection Checklist

For replacement heifers with longevity and productivity, be sure to follow these steps:

• Select heifers at weaning time.  This will help ensure that you can continue a  healthy growth pattern for long-term reproduction and production performance  without letting them get out of condition. Remember, weight gain is the desired  performance measure of their herd mates, which may be counter-productive to  reproductive future.

• Select only heifers of known genetic composition.  This will help ensure  consistency and increased performance of future calf crops. A heifer sired by an above-average bull deserves more consideration.

• Identify and select the females with a long record of above-average  production in their backgrounds. This includes EPD ranked performance, longevity, and reproductive performance.

• Select weaning age heifers born within 90 days of each other to establish a  more consistent group from the start.  Heifers born in the first half of     the calving  season are most desirable, as they will be heavier and often healthier at weaning.

• Avoid selecting any animals that are structurally unsound, nervous or unruly.

• Plan a weaning program  and a heifer development strategy with your Land O’ Lakes Feed consultant  so that  these valuable females will meet targeted weights on time. SteakMaker®  Stress Care starters and RangeLand™ supplements will provide the nutrition  they need to achieve 70-75% of their mature weight at breeding (12-14  months of age) and 85% of their mature weight at calving (24 months of age).