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County Impact Statements - Polk County
Arkansas Beef Improvement Program
The James Watkins Farm at Vandervoort was selected in October of 2000 as an
Arkansas Beef Improvement Program farm. James elected to work under the
Replacement Heifer project. He was concerned about getting his replacement
heifers to calve and re-bred to fit into his mature cow breeding program. A
breeding date goal of March 23 was set for the group of 25 heifers. Weaning
weights and hip heights were taken to determine the approximate mature weight of
the heifers. A target breeding weight of 60% (750 pounds) of their mature weight
was used to develop a feeding plan for the herd. Using the number of days
between the beginning of the project and the targeted breeding date, an average
daily gain of 1.5 pounds per day was necessary to meet the weight goal. One
heifer was culled due to poor growth performance leaving 24 in the herd. "ABIP
has prompted me to be more aggressive with culling of unproductive animals and
to get the heifers bred in a shorter breeding season," says James Watkins.
Heifers were tagged, tattooed, dewormed, and vaccinated prior to the
beginning of the program. Blood samples were pulled to determine mineral levels.
Heifers were weighed monthly to determine rate of gain. The feed rations were
adjusted accordingly to meet rate of gain goal.
One month prior to breeding, the heifers were blood tested to determine
hormone levels in the blood to predict estrus. Only 4 heifers were cycling the
first time blood samples were pulled and an additional 5 head were cycling the
second time. In another attempt to determine if the heifers were cycling, the
herd bull was fitted with a chin ball marking harness and was placed with the
heifers in March. All heifers bred were marked with the marking paint. Palpation
determined that 21 of the 24 heifers are pregnant. This 87% conception rate was
better than the 80% rate of 1999. The heifers will start calving 30 days prior
to the mature cow herd.
"ABIP has helped me to establish records and information on my
heifers I am retaining." -James Watkins
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Impacts
- Increased conception rate from 80% to 87%.
- Was able to monitor weights and feed ration to insure a 1.5
pounds per day gain.
- Heifers will calve 30 days prior to the mature cowherd. This will
allow an extra 30-day recovery period to prepare the heifers for
re-breeding.
- Heifers not showing signs of estrus by blood test were
stimulated into estrus when the herd bull was placed in the herd.
- Cost of developing the heifers averaged $345.00 each.
- Blood mineral levels were determined to be average for the area
and soil type. There were no major deficiencies.
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