| Dale
Watson Commercial Agriculture Beef and Livestock Specialist University of Missouri Extension |
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Dale's Country Trails |
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For the Week of December 3, 1998 Participation in the MBHD Increases Again Consignments to the Missouri Beef Heifer Development Program have increased over 700% since this program was initiated four years ago. The average number of beef cows per farm averages nearly 30 head. This program was designed for the average Missouri beef producer, who does not have the facilities or the time to manage the development of replacement females. This program was initiated at Rocking 8 Cattle Company, Fayette, MO in 1995 and continues under the management of Jim Underwood. A minimum of three head is required for participation to reduce the amount of record keeping and billing. Several consignors have consigned three and four head; one 1998 consignor has 60 heifers entered in the program. These heifers are maintained on fescue pastures and fed daily allotments of rations composed largely of co-products consisting of soybean hulls, corn gluten or brewers grain, a commercial supplement and either fall growth of fescue or free choice hay. The heifers are sorted upon arrival according to weight and fed accordingly to reach approximately 65% of their mature weight by the breeding season. Four consignors entered ten head of heifers each and delivered them in November of 1995 for the start of this project. The heifers were developed by artificial insemination followed by a clean up sire, pregnancy checked and returned to their original owners. The following year the number of consignors increased to nine and a total of 92 head of heifers were entered in the program. In the fall of 1997 entries increased to 205 head by 20 consignors. This year 19 consignors entered a total of 284 head. Nearly one half of the consignors have placed heifers in this program for the second or third time for development. One consignor has placed heifers in the program each of the four years. Heat detection and the artificial insemination process is under the direction of Doug Geppert, Sales Coordinator for Select Sires, and Kim Harsh. These individuals have a proven record and have been involved in semen handling, heat detection and artificial insemination for several years. Considering the return rate of consignors and the increase of participation in this project producers have given the green light for the continuation of this program. |
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