Published: April 10, 2009 07:33 pm         

Herd sale in Calhoun

By Ted G. Dyer, UGA Extension animal scientist



The Ninth Annual Heifer Evaluation and Reproductive Development (HERD) Sale is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27.

The sale starts at 12:30 p.m. in Calhoun at the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center Livestock Pavilion. It is sponsored by the Animal & Dairy Science Department of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine with the cooperation of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, and the hands-on assistance of Georgia county extension agents, and the Heifer Crew located at the test center.

This year the sale will include approximately 95 safe-in-calf heifers. Each heifer has been evaluated and developed at the Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center. The heifers were bred to low calving ease Angus Bulls — a large percentage of the heifers sold will be safe-in-calf to Mytty In Focus.

This is a great opportunity to purchase some really nice heifers that have been thoroughly evaluated for reproductive soundness and disposition that should be productive in your herd for many years.

The heifers were entered in the HERD program in December 2008 from area producers of commercial and purebred cattle. The heifers were required to have a birth date between Dec. 1, 2007, and Feb. 28, 2008. Upon entering the program, the heifers were given booster vaccinations for IBR/BVD/PI3/BRSV, 7-Way Blackleg and 5-Way Lepto-Vibrio. Heifers were also dewormed, given an intranasal vaccine, and tested for Persistently Infected-BVD.

The heifers were placed on pasture where they received high-quality Bermuda hay and a supplement of corn gluten, whole corn and soy hulls. The heifers were fed for a moderate rate of gain which should result in their reaching the target weight (65 percent of mature weight) by 15 months of age. Each heifer has been evaluated for pelvic area, frame score, disposition, reproductive tract maturity score and structure. They were artificially inseminated followed by 45 days with multiple low calving ease Angus clean-up bulls. Calving ease Angus was the top priority in the selection of service sires.

The complete evaluation of the heifers is available in the sale catalog (it will be available around May 1). Contact your local county extension office to request additional information or visit www.tifton.uga.edu/pc-web. The heifers will be available for viewing on May 26 at the Livestock Pavilion or at the farm located just off Ga. 140 on Bells Ferry Road in Rome prior to the sale.

     

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