Extension Corner: Heifer development program offers best production practices
Do you want to take your cattle operation to the next level, or maybe just replace some underperforming stock? If so, the Sand Mountain Elite Heifer Development program might be the right fit for you.
The program is a forage-based development program for yearling heifers consigned by cattle producers in Alabama. The program takes place just up the road from Etowah County at the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center in Crossville. The heifers are nominated in November and arrive at the Research and Extension Center in January.
Through the development program, the heifers are managed with the very best production practices. They are placed on cool-season annuals, weighed every 28 days and given a pre-breeding exam, including reproductive tract scoring and pelvis measurements. They then are artificially inseminated in April and scanned for carcass merit using ultrasound, then you will pick them up at the end of June
Selecting and developing beef heifers to replace underperforming cows or increase herd numbers impacts the economics of a cow-calf operation through genetics and longevity.
Nominations are made by filling out the application, https://www.aces.edu/go/Heifer, by Nov. 30 and sending it to Sand Mountain Elite Heifer Development, Attn: Kent Stanford, 13112 Alabama Highway 68, Crossville, AL 35962.
Heifers must be born before Feb. 15, 2022. The sire and dam (breed composition) of heifers should be known, with the registration number(s) of the sires provided. Sire groups are preferred but not required.
Heifers should weigh a minimum of 525 pounds at delivery, be structurally sound and be of excellent quality. They must have a calm disposition and it is expected that consignors will nominate only the “elite” heifers from their herd.
All heifers will be screened before the delivery date. Any heifer that does not meet the above standards and visual appraisal will not be selected. The final decision on entry is based solely on the opinion of the selection committee. The fee for the program is $400.
All heifers will be evaluated for the pelvic area, frame score, reproductive tract score, disposition score and structure. Weights will be taken at 28-day intervals to ensure acceptable gain is achieved.
Heifers must be at least 14 months of age at the time of breeding (April). All heifers will go through a pre-selected estrous synchronization program and bred A.I. once, followed by a calving-ease clean-up bull for 45 days. They will be ready for pick-up by mid-June.
This program is designed to develop replacement heifers in a forage-based system, utilizing proper animal husbandry and current technologies. Consignors will receive a heifer in June 2023 that has been provided the best care and management possible.
Consignors agree that heifers in this program may be used in Extension programs for demonstration purposes only. A follow-up meeting will be held to summarize the results to all interested cattle producers.
For additional information, contact Animal Science and Forages Regional Extension Agent Landon Marks (256-706-0032) or Extension Specialist Kent Stanford (256-557-1206).
If you have questions about this or any other Extension programs in our community, please reach out or stop by our office at 3200A W. Meighan Blvd., call us at 256-547-7936 or visit us on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3otwUdl or online at https://bit.ly/3yniPCx.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.
Eric Wright is extension coordinator for the Etowah County Extension Office.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Extension offers development program for heifers
