The Angus Journal is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association programs and services; the Angus business; herd management techniques; and advertising reflecting genetics herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/435083
Funston has criticized heifer-development systems that chase high pregnancy rates, but result in overfed heifers. It's expensive, and may actually set heifers up to fail later. Funston says overdevelopment may contribute to situations where a female must reach a certain degree of fatness in order to become pregnant. He says he can't see the logic in growing breeding heifers on diets containing large amounts of grain and then expecting them to spend the rest of their lives foraging. Funston advocates development systems utilizing feedstuffs similar to what replacement females will consume after entering the cow herd. He favors systems that meet all of the heifers' nutritional needs, but offer nothing extra. Challenging heifers during development makes them earn their way into the breeding herd, but Funston believes those heifers are most apt to remain there longer. To select for longevity, Funston also recommends choosing replacement candidates from among heifers born early in the calving season. It's an indication of their dams' fertility and the heifers' potential fertility. Then, recommends Funston, retain the heifers that also conceive early in their frst breeding season. "Research has indicated that heifers having their frst calf earlier in the calving season remained in the herd longer compared with heifers that calved later in the calving season," says Funston, noting that these heifers are more likely to breed back early and continue to deliver calves at the front end of subsequent calving seasons. Cows that consistently calve early also wean more pounds of calf during their productive lives. "Therefore, heifers calving earlier in the calving season have greater potential for longevity and lifetime productivity," adds Funston. "That's important. As we rebuild the nation's cow herd, we need to improve its overall reproductive performance." Editor's Note: Troy Smith is a cattleman and freelance writer from Sargent, Neb. January 2015 n ANGUSJournal n 121 Kent Hubbert tests purchased heifers by developing them on a no-frills program utilizing rations built around the same kinds of feedstuffs that comprise winter diets for mature cows. PO Box 37 Firebaugh, CA 93622 Rick, Allison & Garrett Blanchard Cell (559) 217-1502 Darrell Silveira (559) 217-1504 Fax (559) 674-9097 E-mail: silveirabros@msn.com · www.silveirabros.com Celebrating 40 Years of Angus Tradition TEHAMA ANGUS RANCH 23820 Tehama Ave. Gerber, CA 96035 Kevin & Linda Borror (530) 385-1570 Bryce Borror (530) 526-9404 Mike McCluskey (530) 736-3428 Bill Borror (530) 384-2788 E-mail: borror@theskybeam.com www.tehamaangus.com "Generations of Performance." Siller Ponderosa Angus Katherine Siller 1453 Bogue Rd. Yuba City, CA 95993 Home at Yuba City (530) 674-7136 Oregon House Ranch (530) 692-2930 Cell (530) 755-7357 Office (530) 674-9460 Fax (530) 674-7137 E-mail: kzangus@neteze.com Jim, Karen & Elizabeth Vietheer Mel Hansen • Darrell Hansen 11328 Randolph Rd. • P.O. Box 217 Wilton, CA 95693 www.haveangus.com jimvietheer@frontiernet.net • darrellhansen1@hotmail.com 916-834-2669 Jim's cell • 707-328-9349 Darrell's cell HAVE Angus CALIFORNIA ANGUS BREEDERS Ric Annie Diane David SCHULTZ 17554 S. Chateau-Fresno Ave. Riverdale, CA 93656 info@rockinsranchinc.com www.rockinsranchinc.com Phone: (559) 281-2244 Fax: (559) 867-3696 Contact Terry Cotton (816) 390-3227 tcotton@angusjournal.com or Doneta Brown (816) 383-5232 drown@angusjournal.com