We are excited to provide an update on the recently completed Optimising heifer development and management to increase whole herd profit project, which stemmed from a SALRC priority in the 2018 Investment Call.
Led by the Davies Livestock Research Centre (University of Adelaide), the project sought to identify the impact of growth path from weaning to joining on heifer productivity with an aim to increase the ‘wet-and-pregnant early’ (WAPE) status of heifers joined in temperate production systems by at least 10% relative to current on-farm levels.
The project was delivered in partnership with Holbrook Vet Centre and Agriculture Victoria and worked with producers across the Limestone Coast in South Australia, the NSW Riverina, and Victoria, covering a range of calving periods.
Key facts identified from the research include:
– Herd fertility was less than expected and can be improved
– Only 56% of heifers joined were lactating and re-bred early
– The key fertility driver was heifer conception which was only 72%
– Heifer joining weight target rage 350-400kg
– Heifer growth rates ≥0.5 kg/d before joining & ≥1 kg/d during joining
– Optimum re-breeding occurs at BCS 3-3.5
A copy of the fact sheet for the Optimising heifer development project is available for download.
Professor Wayne Pitchford (Director, Davies Livestock Research Centre) commented “the insights and data from working with many commercial producers has been outstanding. We really appreciate it. It has improved our practical understanding of the importance of maternal productivity and is guiding our development of training material in recently funded projects.”