Latest News From Heifer

Weight at calving not only determines first-lactation performance, it pretty much sets in stone the heifer's lifetime performance and a herd’s overall performance, according to Gavin Staley, DVM. 

Crossbreeding for beef cows and the cost of raising heifers have added to the replacement heifer shortage.

The prevailing hypothesis is that P3 necrosis begins with damage to the hoof’s white line following excessive toe-tip wear after transportation, or handling events on abrasive flooring like concrete or gravel.

Reproductive Tract Scoring is a measurement involving rectal palpation of the heifer reproductive tract and the subsequent assignment of a reproductive tract score, to assist in making replacement heifer decisions.

Heifers conceiving early in their first breeding season will have increased lifetime production and efficiency. It is critical heifers attain enough weight to initiate their first estrous before the onset of breeding.

The images depict a heifer calf that had been on feed for 78 days, at which time it was found dead in the pen. Two other post-mortems from the same pen were found to have similar lesions.

The images depict a heifer calf that had been on feed for 78 days, at which time it was found dead in the pen. Two other post-mortems from the same pen were found to have similar lesions.

These images show a yearling heifer that died at 19 days on feed after having been treated for signs of lameness two days prior to death.

Can you diagnose cause of death for this feedlot heifer?

Can you diagnose cause of death for this feedlot heifer?

These images show a yearling heifer that died at 19 days on feed after having been treated for signs of lameness two days prior to death.