What age do you calve your heifers?

[Guiggs]

As per the title,
How old are your heifers when they have their first calves?
Pro's and con's of 2 year or 3 year old?
Having tried both I'm undecided when to put last year's to the bull.

 

[John Chance]

To bull at 14 months if 400kg to calve at 23 months, giving an extra month to get pregnant again.

 

[milkloss]

Earlier than later here, if only to prevent having huge animals stomping around in the winter. Beef cows.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

30 months

Where's my tin hat....

 

[liammogs]

All depends on system and what you want to achive, dairy man wants milk in the tank, so small bull (eg jersey) will get a calf out easy enough, but a suckler man wanting to either sell weaned calves or sell outfits need stronger cows to produce stronger calves etc! Also some breeds develop quicker than others, youd bull a lim earlier than a bb etc

 

[exmoor dave]

30 months

Where's my tin hat....

I'll need a full on kevlar hat then

 

[tinsheet]

Somewhere Between 24-30months.

 

[GTB]

To bull at 14 months if 400kg to calve at 23 months, giving an extra month to get pregnant again.

Same here. That extra month after calving makes a big difference.

 

[bruce9001]

We aim to calve ours down around 3 year old!

Works better for our system...

Years ago we calved alot at 2 year and same amount at 3 year old!
So far the best calves every year have been from the ones we calved at 3 year old and they are in better condition and shape all year round for it!
Also there was about 15% of the ones calved at 2 year old that didn't go back in calve yet the ones at 3 year old have all gotten back in calve every year since....

Hopefully get 1 extra calve from them when there older rather than younger!

 

[Stewartry hill]

30 month for bought in one's home reared ? 3years to old 2years to young

 

[Samcowman]

2 years old here. Everything will be 410kg plus when they go to the bull. It was 400 kg last year but had a lot big enough this year so upped the weight a bit. They don't get creep fed as calves and only get 1.5kg barley 1.5kg beans from weaning along with silage. After calving they don't get special attention apart from being put on the easier blocks of grass. Only get the odd one not get back in calf for their second calf

 

[Hilly]

Bull at 18 month, hard hill they live on they need extra time to grow unlike you inbye men, i want to go to bed but one has just started to calve

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Bull at 18 month, hard hill they live on they need extra time to grow unlike you inbye men, i want to go to bed but one has just started to calve

Had two calve last night....one was fannying about and ended up having to put it in the crush at 4am why when there's a problem is it always through the night! It's never at 8am so you have all day to sort it out

 

[Hilly]

Had two calve last night....one was fannying about and ended up having to put it in the crush at 4am why when there's a problem is it always through the night! It's never at 8am so you have all day to sort it out

Im going to look at 10 im praying its standing having a suck !

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Im going to look at 10 im praying its standing having a suck !

I used to be optimistic like you

 

[Hilly]

I used to be optimistic like you

Oh button it you ! It will be fine mun ! 21 mins to go

 

[bruce9001]

Good luck @Hilly

Just checked and the 2 I was watching literally were just pushing them out as entered shed [emoji16][emoji3]
2 happy big bull calves

 

[Hilly]

Bingo ! its a boy. night all