Easy fleshing is a trait with economic value as long as it is accompanied by adequate growth. A nutritional development program for heifers begins while the calf is on the cow. Providing a complete mineral at all times aids in maintaining a healthy and effective immune system. A healthy immune system is important for the calf to respond to vaccinations and withstand the stress of weaning. Another preweaning tool is a self limiting, high-protein creep feed such as cottonseed meal and salt.
Calves learn to eat dry feed and put on some economical gain.
They handle the stress of weaning much better because they go to eating dry feed much quicker. Tim Marshall took a set of heifer calves at weaning and divided them into 2 groups. The other group was fed at slightly over maintenance for half of the development period followed by a diet designed to allow them to reach their target weight by the start of the breeding season. This can be accomplished more readily if they are cycling at the start of the breeding season and, thus, can conceive early. This may not be as critical if you're not calving until 3 years of age, since the heifers have more time to reach puberty.