Profitability of calving heifers at 2 compared with 3 years of age and the effect of incidence of assistance at parturition on profitability
R. E. Hickson A B , N. Lopez-Villalobos A , P. R. Kenyon A , B. J. Ridler A and S. T. Morris AA Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: r.hickson@massey.ac.nz
Animal Production Science 50(6) 354-358 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09180
Submitted: 4 December 2009 Accepted: 14 April 2010 Published: 11 June 2010
Abstract
There is potential to increase the profitability of beef-breeding cows in New Zealand by calving heifers for the first time at 2 instead of 3 years of age; however, calving at this earlier age is often associated with an increase in assistance at calving. This study used a simulated farm system within the Grazing Systems Model to estimate the profitability of calving heifers at 2 years of age with various incidences of assistance at calving. Annual profit from the beef cattle herd was greater for primiparous 2-year-old heifers than for 3-year-old primiparous heifers when the incidence of assisted calving in 2-year-old heifers was less than 89%. Replacement rate increased with increased assistance at parturition. These results indicated that a considerable gain in profitability could be made by calving heifers for the first time at 2 instead of 3 years of age, and further gains could be made in herds already calving heifers at 2 years of age by reducing the incidence of assistance at calving.
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