Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program

Benefits

The program is a partnership of The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture designed to:

• Increase the opportunity for custom replacement heifer development,
• Demonstrate proper replacement heifer development to beef cattle producers in Tennessee,
• Increase the implementation of heifer development practices that will result in optimum reproductive efficiency as mature cows,
• Demonstrate management techniques necessary for replacement heifers to reach target weight and breed successfully,
• Demonstrate methods of evaluating heifers for disposition, performance, and reproductive traits.

Reproductive Management
Heifers will be evaluated for pelvic area and reproductive tract score before breeding. Heifers will undergo an estrous synchronization protocol followed by Artificial Insemination (AI). After the first AI, heifers will be observed for a return heat (return to estrus); females observed in estrus will receive a second AI. They will then be pasture exposed to Angus clean-up bulls owned by the University of Tennessee. The selection of AI sires (provided by Select Sires Inc. and ABS) will be performed by the program’s administrator, who will work with the advisory committee. Sire requests that qualify under Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program sire genetic requirements can be used beyond committee selection, with the additional associated costs covered by the producer. Calving ease is a high priority for sire selection. Pregnancy will be diagnosed approximately 30 days after the end of the breeding season via ultrasonography.

Nutritional Management
Heifers will be maintained on standing forage and hay and supplemented to achieve optimum growth (targeted for 55 to 65% of predicted mature weight). Most of the nutritional program will consist of a grazing plan that includes cool-season perennials, annuals, and warm-season perennials. Free-choice balanced minerals are provided throughout the program. When collecting live carcass data via external ultrasound, heifers will be evaluated for rump fat thickness, rib fat thickness, ribeye area, and Intramuscular fat, and the data will be shared with the producer.

Participation Cost
The program’s cost is $925 per heifer. This can vary each year.