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A Three-Year Economic Evaluation Of A Commercial Heifer Development Program, G.C. Lamb, J.M. Lynch, B.L. Miller, V. Traffas, L.R. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 1994, 1995, and 1996, a commercial heifer development operation purchased a total of 1542 potential replacement heifers. Heifers were purchased in the fall proceeding the spring breeding season and fed a silage-based diet during the developmental period. Before the breeding season began, heifers that failed to meet minimum requirements for pelvic area, average daily gain, body weight, disposition, or structural soundness were culled. During the first year, 42% of 483 heifers were culled, 17% of 468 heifers were culled in the second year, and 14% of 591 heifers in the third year. Estrus was synchronized and heifers were inseminated …