cattle management: heifer selection
TRANSCRIPT
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CATTLE MANAGEMENT:
HEIFER SELECTION
TIGANE BONSMARAS
23 JULY 2011
SENWES
AGRI-SERVICES
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1. Udders and teats
2. Body conformation
3. Rump and slope
Criteria for heifer selection
3. Rump and slope
4. Skin and hair
5. Body condition
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• To get a weaner calf of 230kg, you need some 10 litres of milk from the dam a day.
• Teats should neither be too small nor too large.
1. Udders
nor too large.
• Udders should also not hang too down as they can be prone to injuries.
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Udder of a Heifer
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Udders of a sub-fertile cow
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2. Conformation
• A heifer should never look like a bull.
• A heifer with those features goes to the abattoirs.
• Good heifer-like body is a sign of • Good heifer-like body is a sign of fertility.
• Sub-fertile heifers will look different.
• This is due to hormonal imbalance.
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Sub-fertile heifer
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Differences
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3. Rump slope
• Pelvis slope plays a major part.
• Expulsion of the foetus during calving depends on the slope.
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Desired pelvis slope
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Undesired pelvis slope
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4. Skin and hair
• Skin shows how adapted is the animal to the environment.
• Rough coat usually indicates that the animal is not adapted well.
• Adaptability forms the basis of production in animals.production in animals.
• Failure to adapt, leads to sub-fertility
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Rough coat, sub-fertility sign
Winter Lick
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Coat of an adapted animal
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5. Body condition
• Feeding determines the body condition
• There must be sufficient feed all year round.
• Protein lick should be provided (winter)
• Phosphate lick (summer)
• For animal to reproduce it must be in a good, healthy condition
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Bad condition
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Well-fed calves
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Conclusion
Fertility is the most important aspect in cattle production, so a heifer must be feminine and a bull masculine.
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