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The optimum age is 15 months or more. She should also be weighing at least 60% of the average weight of the main herd or the body weight of a mature cow that is comprised of similar breeding to her. She must also have good pelvic area and good capacity in her hips and barrel area before she can have a calf. This is because some heifers can be still too small and too light to be bred at 15 months of age, and if they are bred when none of these criteria are met, there will be problems when she tries to give birth, resulting in dystocia. Most heifers that cannot meet these criteria in the first place are shipped to be used for meat production or, if they're lucky, bought by other producers who have a need for smaller heifers.
With a 285-day gestation period, she will calve out by the time she's ~24 months of age.
For cows, they are already mature females who are well past 15 months old, who have, supposedly, already had a calf or two. It's matter of whether they have calved out already and they have come back into normal cycling, or if they're not pregnant (already open), that determines whether they are ready to become pregnant again or not. However, a cow's ability to be able to breed back is determined by their weight in terms of body condition score: Cows can be a half a BCS score lighter than heifers (depending on what scale you are using), but they must be at a normal body condition of 5 to 6 (on a scale of 1 to 9) or 3 to 3.5 (on a scale of 1 to 5). They should not be too thin, nor should they be too fat prior to parturition. You should be able to see some of the bones on the cow, but they shouldn't be prominent or sharp like you would see with an emaciated cow. There should be a moderate fat covering over the ribs, spine, and pelvic bones. Rolls of fat on a cow is not good, as it could hinder the calving and lactating progress. Check out the following related questions on body condition score for cows and heifers.
You can breed a heifer any time she is in heat. Just make sure she has had two or three healthy heat periods already before you put a bull in with her.
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∙ 6y ago
A heifer can typically be bred around 15 months of age if she has reached puberty and reached the appropriate size for breeding. It is important to consult with a veterinarian for guidance on the specific breed and individual health and development factors before breeding a heifer.
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When is a heifer too old to be bred?
There really isn't a specific age when a heifer is too old to be bred. However, past five to seven years of age can be considered "too old" to get her bred. And yet, you still can get her bred if you use a really calving-ease (and proven) bull on her, just like you would with 15 month old heifers.
How old should a heifer be before breeding?
At least 15 months of age.
When should a young heifer be put in calf?
Young heifers, as in heifers that are younger than 6 months of age, should NEVER be bred to calf, as this is much too young for them and too hard on their growing bodies. The youngest a heifer can be bred at is when they are 15 months old. Most heifers reach puberty by the time they are 11 or 12 months old, but shouldn't be bred until they are either 60% or 70% of the average weight of the main cowherd, or reach 15 months of age. Most of the time it is the weight that many cattle producers rely on for best calf production of the heifers, as sometimes a heifer that reaches 15 months of age is still too small to be bred.
What age would heifers calve for the first time?
That really depends on when she was bred. The average gestation period of a cow (or heifer) is around 285 days. Thus, if a heifer was bred when she was 15 months old, then she would likely give birth by the time she is 24 months of age. If she was bred when she was 18 or 20 months old, then she would calve out when she's 27 to 29 months of age.
Can a heifer safely calve at 16 months old?
A heifer should be getting bred at that age, not calving. But, I digress. Unless the heifer has been knowingly and purposely bred to a low birth-weight bull, I wouldn't count on it. Keep a constant eye on her when she gets to the point where she's about to "pop" any day and keep tabs on her progress. If she's having any difficulty, get the veterinarian out to see if she will have to have a calf pulled of if a Caesarean section (C-section) needs to be done on her.
When is a heifer too old to be bred?
There really isn't a specific age when a heifer is too old to be bred. However, past five to seven years of age can be considered "too old" to get her bred. And yet, you still can get her bred if you use a really calving-ease (and proven) bull on her, just like you would with 15 month old heifers.
How old should a heifer be before breeding?
At least 15 months of age.
How old should a holstein heifer be before breeding?
At least 15 months of age.
Can a cow get pregnant at 9 months old?
Cows aren't cows if they're only 9 months old. You would be talking about a heifer, not a cow. And yes, a heifer can quite possibly get bred at 9 months of age, especially if she had been showing heat signs before she was weaned.
What is the age limit of a bovine Heifer?
Most heifers should be around 15 to 18 months of age to be receptive and be able to get bred. Of course this depends on the breed and the type of cattle. For dairy cattle, a farmer aims to have a heifer calve by 24 months, or two years of age. The gestation period for a cow is approximately the same as for humans - nine months. Hence, a farmer usually aims to inseminate a heifer at 15 months of age, but this also depends on the health and condition of the animal and whether is is physically fit to become pregnant. For beef cattle, a heifer generally should be inseminated at around the same age. However, some breeds are quite late maturing, and will only be able to get bred at 18 to 22 months of age. Brahmans (or Zebu-type cattle) are late maturing, enough that only sees heifers getting bred or inseminated at this age.
When should a young heifer be put in calf?
Young heifers, as in heifers that are younger than 6 months of age, should NEVER be bred to calf, as this is much too young for them and too hard on their growing bodies. The youngest a heifer can be bred at is when they are 15 months old. Most heifers reach puberty by the time they are 11 or 12 months old, but shouldn't be bred until they are either 60% or 70% of the average weight of the main cowherd, or reach 15 months of age. Most of the time it is the weight that many cattle producers rely on for best calf production of the heifers, as sometimes a heifer that reaches 15 months of age is still too small to be bred.
What age would heifers calve for the first time?
That really depends on when she was bred. The average gestation period of a cow (or heifer) is around 285 days. Thus, if a heifer was bred when she was 15 months old, then she would likely give birth by the time she is 24 months of age. If she was bred when she was 18 or 20 months old, then she would calve out when she's 27 to 29 months of age.
How many months does a heifer carry a calf?
That all depends on when they have been bred. A heifer bred at 15 months of age would calve when she's 24 months old. If she's bred later than that, she will always calve 9 months later.
Can a heifer safely calve at 16 months old?
A heifer should be getting bred at that age, not calving. But, I digress. Unless the heifer has been knowingly and purposely bred to a low birth-weight bull, I wouldn't count on it. Keep a constant eye on her when she gets to the point where she's about to "pop" any day and keep tabs on her progress. If she's having any difficulty, get the veterinarian out to see if she will have to have a calf pulled of if a Caesarean section (C-section) needs to be done on her.
How old should guinea pigs be before having babys?
NO NO Guinea pigs should not be bred so dont do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:(
Can a 5 month old heifer get bred?
Well she shouldn't!! If she has started puberty at that age (which is quite rare), she can get bred, but it his highly not recommended because of her small size, and the fact that she still has a lot of growing to do in order to be able to conceive and give birth to a healthy vibrant calf. Heifers should ONLY be bred at no earlier than 15 months of age!
Can a jersey heifer be bred a 8 months of age?
Nope, this is much too young for her to be bred. You should wait until she's 15 months old in order to breed her. You can breed her a couple months earlier, but ideally, for her reproductive health and ability to be able to breed back and produce another calf, it's best if she's bred at 15 months of age.
