Raise weaning weights through good nutrition and fertility

Top-quality heifers and well-balanced nutrition form two of the most important cornerstones of effective red meat production, writes Henco Leicester, technical manager at Telwiedre, an animal feed manufacturer, in Heilbron. He explains the principles of heifer management and the role of lick supplementation.

- Henco Leicester

The sad truth is that the average national beef cattle weaning rate in South Africa fluctuates between 50% and 55%. This is dangerously low, and a financial impediment to farmers. In order to meet the expected increase in the demand for beef in the foreseeable future and to remain in business, the beef cattle production sector needs to markedly push up weaning rates as a matter of urgency.

Without the selection of top, high-potential heifers and sound management of the heifer herd, producers will find it exceedingly challenging to realise optimum reproduction efficiency in a cowherd. The goal is to limit the unproductive growth phase, achieve a high heifer conception rate, minimise calving problems, and attain above-average weaning weights and optimum reconception rates for first-calf cows.

This calls for a marked increase in South Africa's average herd fertility, as profitable beef cattle production starts with the selection of highly fertile heifers. Fertility coupled with the attainment and maintenance of the animal's target weight is of vital importance. Average herd weight is determined by the collective weight of all female animals in a herd from their second lactation onwards. Heifers should preferably not be mated before they have reached 65% of the herd's average weight, so that they can calve upon reaching 85% of the herd's average weight.

With an average herd weight of, for instance, 500kg, producers should breed their heifers at 325kg, so that they calve at a weight of 425kg. At a weaning weight of 200kg to 220kg, these breeding weights could easily be obtained with the use of lick supplementation and good grazing management. It is, however, necessary to keep in mind that the objective is not to develop fat heifers, as this will have a negative impact on fertility and lead to calving difficulties.