Learn to rebuild and retain a better cow herd May 5-6 in Columbia.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Most beef cattle operations in Missouri develop and breed their own heifers rather than purchase bred replacements. Because replacement females represent one of the largest costs in producing a calf, choosing and managing the right ones is critical for long-term herd success.
“Many of us are thinking about expanding the size of our herd to capitalize on this period of high calf prices. Unfortunately, that means keeping back or purchasing some pretty pricey heifers,” said Jordan Thomas, beef reproductive physiologist in the University of Missouri Division of Animal Sciences.
Thomas is one of the presenters at Retain With Intention: Building a Better Missouri Cow Herd, May 5–6 in Columbia. During the program, Thomas and fellow MU Extension specialists will provide tools to help producers identify, develop and manage females that remain productive in the herd. They will highlight ways to evaluate heifers for retention and share management strategies that support efficient reproduction and long-term fertility.
“If we are going to expand the cow herd in Missouri, we want to do it with the right kind of cows,” Thomas said. “There are great tools to screen out heifers that just don’t need to become cows.” He also will share information on breeding systems for the cow herd that improve the maternal merit of the heifer calf crop.
“Rebuilding the cow herd is more than keeping back a few extra heifers,” said Jamie Courter, MU Extension state beef genetics specialist and program speaker. “It’s about making intentional decisions that shape your operation for years to come.”
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Evaluate replacement heifers using performance records, genomic information and visual appraisal.
- Develop a nutrition plan that supports proper growth, puberty attainment and breeding success.
- Design a reproductive management strategy to improve conception rates and long-term fertility.
- Calculate the economic impact of retaining heifers versus selling them at weaning.
- Implement a structured replacement selection framework tailored to their operation’s environment and goals.
The event will be held at MU’s Beef Research and Teaching Farm, 5169 Old Millers Road, Columbia.