Developing Replacement Heifers During Drought Conditions and High Hay Prices

Jul 22, 2026

By Kim Ricardo

Persistent drought conditions across much of the region have created a familiar challenge for beef producers heading into fall. Hay yields have been reduced, pasture production has slowed, and many producers anticipate paying premium prices for hay. While controlling feed costs is important, replacement heifers represent the future productivity of the cow herd and should not be overlooked when forage supplies become limited.

High-priced hay does not necessarily mean replacement heifers cannot be developed cost-effectively. Alternative feed resources and strategic feeding programs can help producers meet growth targets while stretching limited forage supplies.

Begin With a Feed Inventory

Before purchasing additional hay or modifying feeding programs, producers should inventory all available feed resources. Hay should be sampled and analyzed for nutrient content rather than evaluated solely on visual appearance. Likewise, crop residues, silage, and other home-raised feeds should be tested to determine their feed value.

Knowing the quality of available forage allows producers to identify nutrient deficiencies, determine whether supplementation is needed, and develop balanced rations in a cost-effective manner. In many situations, moderate-quality hay supplemented with an energy or protein source can meet the nutrient requirements of developing heifers more economically than purchasing premium-quality hay.

Keep Development Goals in Mind

Replacement heifers should remain on a positive plane of nutrition throughout the fall and winter to support steady growth and reproductive development. As a general guideline, heifers should reach 55% to 60% of their expected mature body weight by the start of the breeding season and 80% to 85% of mature body weight by calving. Reaching these targets improves the likelihood of successful rebreeding as two-year-olds and may help reduce the risk of calving difficulty.

Source : sdstate.edu

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