Raising replacement beef heifers in the south-birth to parturition: a review of current practices

The South of the United States (13 southern states) is ecologically and socioeconomically well suited for reproducing ruminant animals. The South has a broad economic base, its climate is comparatively mild, much of its soil is easily eroded requiring vegetative cover, it receives comparatively abundant rainfall, and a diversity of plant species grow well, enabling a multitude of production and management alternatives. The South currently accounts for 46.3% of the beef cows in the United States. To assess current practices associated with the raising of replacement beef heifers, a questionnaire was sent to 60 extension beef cattle specialists in the 13 southern states. Twenty-four completed questionnaires revealed that much needs to be accomplished to improve replacement heifer production. Particularly deficient areas include lack of a limited breeding season, failure to check for pregnancy, inadequate health management, poor nutrition such that heifers do not calve at 24 mo of age, and often those that calve do not rebreed. These deficiencies result in reduced economic efficiency of replacement heifer development and could result in a significant reduction in profits of an entire beef cow-calf operation. Beef cattle specialists suggested that part of the problem associated with development of replacement heifers is a lack of defined objectives by producers.