Development of the replacement heifer is an extremely costly operation. Since she won't produce any economic return until she is approximately two and a half years old when she weans her first calf, she's an easy target for mismanagement. Because of the expense associated with getting the heifer into production, it makes weaning an adequate-sized calf all the more critical. Emphasis should be given to prioritizing traits of economic importance. Since breed influences when heifers reach puberty, it's important to consider available nutritional resources when evaluating which breeds to use in order to take advantage of maternal heterosis.
Genetic control is one advantage of raising as compared to buying replacement heifers.
Pre-weaning We largely depend on the dam to nurture and care for the heifer during this phase. The better your information, the more accurate your decisions. Age and weight along with breed will largely determine when heifers will reach puberty. However, this weight should be muscle mass without a substantial amount of fat. Research has shown that a high-energy creep feed fed to suckling heifers of British breeds may hinder subsequent milking ability because of fat deposition in the developing udder.