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Getting Replacement Heifers Ready To Breed

Apr 18, 2016
By Taylor Grussing
SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist
 
By now, most producers are in the heart of the calving season or even nearing the end, which means that breeding season is right around the corner. Therefore, replacement heifers are closing in on one year-of-age and should be showing signs that they are ready to begin the breeding season. But first, producers should take some time to evaluate replacement heifers’ health, nutrition and reproductive status. This will increase breeding success, with heifers that will perform and are good representation of the females that should enter the mature cow herd.
 
Health
 
First, replacement heifers should be given pre-breeding vaccinations at least 30 days prior to breeding to protect them from infectious reproductive diseases, such as leptospirosis, IBR, and BVDV. These conditions can be detrimental to fertility as they contribute to embryonic losses in addition to losses later in gestation. Heifers may need booster doses of these vaccines, so timing should be carefully considered and discussed with a veterinarian. Brucellosis, or “Bangs,” vaccination should also be considered. This vaccine is administered by an accredited veterinarian when the heifer is between 4 and 12 months of age. There is no longer a national or state requirement for brucellosis vaccination, but vaccinated animals are better able to move between states (as a result of the orange identification “Bangs tag” applied at the time of vaccination) and are protected against the disease should it show-up in the region. 
 
Nutrition
 
Next, heifers need to have good nutritional management in order to reach a target weight by breeding time. Research has shown that developing heifers to 55 – 65% of mature body weight by breeding aids in pregnancy success due to more heifers reaching puberty and cycling prior to breeding season. Development below 55% can lead to less heifers reaching puberty at breeding and thus delayed conceptions. Knowing mature cow weights and current heifer weights will help you determine the required rate of gain needed to attain desired target weight by breeding time.
By now, most producers are in the heart of the calving season or even nearing the end, which means that breeding season is right around the corner. Therefore, replacement heifers are closing in on one year-of-age and should be showing signs that they are ready to begin the breeding season.
Heifers must reach puberty by 15 months-of-age if they are to calve by 24 months. Therefore, heifers that reach puberty at an earlier age than their counterparts prior to breeding (due to nutrition, genetics, environment, etc.) are more likely to experience multiple estrous cycles before the breeding season. This can have a positive effect on conception, leading to earlier calving during her first year and also in consecutive years, allowing her to wean more pounds over her lifetime. However, it can be difficult to determine the exact age at puberty without watching them constantly for visual signs of estrus. Reproductive tract scoring (RTS) and pelvic measurements can be assessed 4 – 6 weeks prior to breeding replacement heifers to see if they are reaching puberty and if they should actually be bred or if value can be realized by feeding them in the feedlot.
 
RTS is a subjective measurement that involves palpation of uterine tone, uterine size and ovarian structures of the reproductive tract to determine sexual maturity of the heifer. A scoring system 1 through 5 is available for determining an RTS of each female based on a combination of the previous palpation measurements, along with ovarian length, height and width. A score of 1 would be immature/prepubertal, 2 or 3 refer to peripubertal, with 4 and 5 indicating pubertal females with presence of dominant ovarian structures. A trained veterinarian can perform RTS in a matter of seconds and this practice could be done at Bangs vaccination time if performed no sooner than 10 – 12 months of age. Females with higher RTS are likely more fertile and will conceive earlier in the 1st breeding season, as well as stay in the herd longer than immature prepubertal females.
 
Table 1. Reproductive tract score (RTS) system and measurements associated with scores (Anderson et al., 1991).
 

RTS

Uterine horns
(diameter, mm)

Ovarian length
(mm)

Ovarian height
(mm)

Ovarian width
(mm)

Ovarian structures

1

Immature,
<20 mm,
No tone

15

10

8

No palpable follicles

2

20 – 25 mm, No tone

18

12

10

8 mm follicles

3

20 – 25 mm,
Slight tone

22

15

10

8 – 10 mm follicles

4

30 mm,
Good tone

30

16

12

>10 mm follicles, CL possible

5

>30 mm,
Good tone

>32

20

15

>10 mm, follicles, CL present

 
 
Also, measuring pelvic area is a practice that can be performed in replacement heifers that may be helpful in identifying females that could be prone to future calving difficulty if the pelvic canal is smaller than desired for anticipated calf birth weight. Pelvic area will not likely have an effect on fertility directly; however, it may predict future dystocia events. If dystocia occurs it will decrease pregnancy rates by extending the postpartum period, delaying estrus and reducing conception rates. Pelvic area is measured using a pelvimeter introduced into the rectum which will measure the height and width of the pelvis at the widest points. These measurements are multiplied together and measures the area in square cm. Average pelvic area for a 600 lb. heifer is 140 cm2 (11.5 cm wide x 12.5 cm high) with the ability to deliver a 67 lb. calf. Pelvic area continues to grow at 0.27 cm2/day until 2 years of age, and then slows through maturity.
 
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