Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program

The Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program is to incentivize the re-population of the beef herd through custom heifer development. It will be accomplished by the implementation of management practices with access to more productive replacement females allowing for more rapid expansion of Tennessee’s beef herd. This will improve the longevity of these females, decreasing turnover and providing for exponential improvement in genetics with associated revenue generation.

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 weights and breed successfully,
Demonstrate methods of evaluating heifers for disposition, performance, and reproductive traits.

Benefits

Reproductive Management
Heifers will be evaluated for pelvic area and reproductive tract score prior to breeding. Estrus will be synchronized and heifers exposed to a single timed artificial insemination (AI). Estrus detection and AI will be conducted for the remainder of a 45-day breeding season. Selection of AI sires will be performed by the program’s administrator working with the advisory committee. Sires requested beyond committee selections must qualify under Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement program sire genetic requirements. Calving ease will be 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, hay or haylage and supplement designed for optimum growth. A grazing plan that includes cool and warm-season grasses will compose a majority of the nutritional program. Heifers will be fed to weigh approximately 65% of their projected mature weight at the beginning of the breeding season.

Important Information & Dates

Important information for the current Heifer Class Groups offered in the program:

Fall Born Heifers: Calved September – November

Spring Born Heifers: Calved January – March

Rules and Regulations

Consignment Form

Fall 2022 Heifer Class

July 11-12, 2022	Check in, VAX, Weight, Hip Height, Preg check
July 25, 2022	ReVAX
August 22, 2022	Weigh Day – Preg Check
September 19, 2022	Weigh Day
October 17, 2022	Weigh Day
November 4, 2022	Weigh Day, Carcass Ultrasound, Pelvic Area Measurement, Repro Tract Score, Hip Heights, Docility – Insert CiDR
November 18, 2022	Remove CiDR
December 4, 2022	PGF 4PM
December 5-6, 2022	AI based on heat
December 7, 2022	FTAI 8:00-12:00PM
December 16, 2022	Cleanup Bull In
February 20, 2023	Weigh Day, Preg Check, (End of Breeding Season)
April 24, 2023	Final Pregnancy Check, Hip Height, Docility, Freeze Brand
May 8-9, 2023	Fall Heifer Pickup

Spring 2022 Heifer Class

October 10-11, 2022	Check in, VAX, Weight, Hip Height, Preg check
October 24, 2022	ReVAX
November 21, 2022	Weigh Day – Preg Check
December 19, 2022	Weigh Day
January 17, 2023	Weigh Day
February 13, 2023	Weigh Day
March 3, 2023	Weigh Day, Carcass Ultrasound, Pelvic Area Measurement, Repro Tract Score, Hip Heights – Insert CiDR
March 17, 2023	Remove CiDR
April 2, 2023	PGF 4PM
April 3-4, 2023	AI based on heat
April 5, 2023	FTAI 8:00-12:00PM
April 14, 2023	Cleanup Bull In
June 19, 2023	Weigh Day, Preg Check, (End of Breeding Season)
July 24, 2023	Final Pregnancy Check, Hip Height, Docility, Freeze Brand
August 7-8, 2023	Spring Heifer Pickup

Program Contacts

For more information please contact Kevin Thompson, Hugh Moorehead, or Charlie Strogner

Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Lewisburg
1070 New lake Road
Lewisburg, TN 37091
P: 931-270-2240