Heifers: Should they stay or should they go?

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Dr. Steve Hammack (right) told producers to select heifers that fit their goals. The livestock specialist pointed out how genetic considerations should also include the region's climate, management skill and marketability. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

March 31, 2005 - To retain replacement heifers or buy new heifers might be the question some cattle producers are pondering as the grass greens and cows calve.

To make the decision, producers should consider the goals of the ranch, the number of cattle desired, management resources and economics, according to Extension Economist Blake Bennett, one speaker at the March 18 Upper Sabine River Cow-Calf Clinic held in Wills Point.

If focusing on raising your own, Bennett said, "Look at the cost of producing a weaned calf, cost of developing the heifer. What are the revenue expectations of her life and the IRS tax implications?"

On the other hand, there are also questions one must ask if buying replacement females. What to pay? What to buy - bred heifers, bred cows or pairs?

"What can I afford to pay, given today's prices and projected income and expenses?," is the question Bennett said producers need to ask themselves.

The economist stated some factors determining purchase price are expected revenue, expected costs, and "her income stream over her life, including her salvage value at culling."

From a management point of view, Dr. Steve Hammack, Extension beef cattle specialist emeritus from Stephenville, stated, "In beef cattle, nutritional cost of just maintaining cows is a large part of total production cost.

"Since cowherd nutritional costs are so critical, they must be kept as low as feasible. This means utilizing resources that have little if any other productive/economic use, with minimum labor by grazing."

Hammack, also speaking at the Uppper Sabine Cow-Calf Clinic, stated environment affects levels of production.

"Why should the environment be considered in beef cattle production? Because environment affects production, and differences between types may not be the same in different environments," he said.

The specialist gave an example of how genetics, crossed with the environment, interacted on the birth weights. In Nebraska, British-cross calves weighed 81.2 pounds while Brahman-cross calves weighed 3.5 pounds less - 77.7 pounds. In Florida, British-cross calves weighed 60.1 pounds versus Brahman-cross calves weighing 63.8, a 3.7-pound difference.

Hammack stated, "In a logical genetic strategy, all conditions should be considered before making any genetic decisions."

Conditions to consider are climate, topography, pests, forage, labor, management skill, and markets. After these conditions are considered, then consider what characteristics and performance levels best match the conditions, the best breeding system, and what breeds best fit the conditions and breeding system, according to Hammack.

In cold climates, consider breeds that originated in the British Isles and continental Europe. For hot climates, consider breeds native to the tropics and subtropics.

With breeding, Hammack stated there are two breeding systems - continuous and terminal.

A continuous system means the heifers are retained, and therefore "a producer needs to be concerned with all maternal aspects and the market."

With the terminal system, heifers are not saved and replacements are bought.

"You don't have to pay attention to maternal aspects because you are not going to keep them," Hammack stated.

With about 75 breeds in the United States, Hammack cited there was "no way to accurately compare all breeds under all conditions."

Hammack cited if change is needed, it can be done easier and quicker by using breeds noted for a particular trait.

"For example, if you want more marbling, go to a breed that has marbling," Hammack said.

The specialist also expounded on "hair" breeds versus "ear" breeds.

"Why consider ear breeds?," Hammack asked. "They are more heat tolerant, more resistant to pests, more efficiently utilize fibrous, low quality forages, have the highest vigor, highest calving ease, and longest productive life.

"What hurts the ear breeds are cold tolerance, (the) high concentrate feed use, later sexual maturity, lower marbling and a lower market price of stocker/feeder but not replacement females.

"It is hard to argue against some ear in Texas," Hammack added. Since the breed type affects pricing, Hammack informed the audience of two formulas that have been proposed to comply with market preferences.

"The Northern formula is at least 1/2 British, and no more than 1/2 Continental, no more than 1/4 ear. This means Continental sires could be used only on all-British females. If there is more than a touch of ear in females, the sire must be British.

"A more logical market formula is at least 1/4 British, no more than 1/2 Continental, and no more than 1/4 ear. For high-quality markets, more British. For lean-beef markets, more Continental, less British. In persistently hot climates, more ear may be needed."

Hammack pointed out to the clinic participants that the information presented is "rough guidelines and that's all they are. Most formulas are based on appearance, not actual genetics. Feedlots are based on appearance of cattle. I wish feeders and beyond would stop talking about percentages. We've got to get away from color.

"Since we can't change many of the production and market conditions in most beef cow operations, it is most efficient to employ adaptive genetic management, that is, we must adapt genetics to the conditions," Hammack concluded.