Favor Older, Earlier-calving Bred Heifers at Auction This Fall

Oct 31, 2025

These are interesting times in the beef industry, says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey.

Cattle prices are higher than ever, yet there is scant evidence of herd expansion in the macroeconomic data. However, enormous asking prices exist for bred heifers marketed online, Bailey says.

Before you head to the sale barn, Bailey suggests a review of data that shows that early-calving bred heifers pay off many times over.

Older, earlier-calving heifers have an advantage over the long run

A 2013 Journal of Animal Science article, Heifer Calving Date Positively Influences Calf Weaning Weights Through Six Parturitions (doi: 10.2527/jas.2013-6465), is “truly impactful science” that supports the argument that older, early-calving heifers offer an advantage in the long run, says Bailey.

Source : missouri.edu

Video: Research in Action | Swine Cluster 4 - Activity 8: Precision Feeding with Dr. Aline Remus

Research in Action is a video series from Swine Innovation Porc that highlights the people and projects driving innovation in Canada's pork sector.

In this episode, Dr. Aline Remus (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) explains how precision feeding is helping producers improve efficiency, reduce feed costs and lower environmental impacts while supporting animal health and welfare.

As part of Swine Cluster 4 - Activity 8, this research is advancing precision livestock farming by tailoring nutrition to the needs of individual pigs or groups of pigs. The project aims to reduce feed costs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses, and develop practical precision feeding systems that producers can confidently adopt on-farm.

By bringing together researchers from across Canada and around the world, this work is helping transform innovative research into practical solutions for a more sustainable and competitive Canadian pork sector.