Thinking about purchasing replacement heifers? Read about the pros and cons from the experts at UF/IFAS.
“Statistically speaking, most producers raise their own heifers,” but there are also some who choose to buy replacement heifers, according to a UF/IFAS blog article about developing quality Florida beef heifers. The article shared the “choices you can make while raising your own replacement heifers and also review the pros and cons of purchasing replacement heifers;” we shared the options that need to be considered when raising replacement heifers in a prior blog. See the details of the pros and cons of purchasing replacement heifers from the blog article, below.
Pros of Purchasing Replacement Heifers
“Statistically speaking, most producers raise their own heifers. However, some purchase heifers because they don’t have the land to raise them separately, they lack the extra labor they need to manage them, they don’t have the time, they don’t want the extra cost of supplementation or feed, they don’t have the appropriate bull power to breed them to or they want to utilize what land they have towards their main cow herd that gives them a quicker return,” the article shared, adding “If a producer only has a few employees, they may want to focus on operational improvements, like planting improved forages, maintaining fence lines or roads, or growing alternative crops to supplement income.”
The article shared these advantages of purchasing replacement heifers:
- Management of inputs.
- “Purchasing heifers can give a producer instant improved genetics.”
- “They can be bought to fit right into your calving season preference.
- “They are already bred, potentially docile, are up to date on vaccines and health protocols.”
Cons of Purchasing Replacement Heifers
The article maintained that “86% of producers do like to grow their own heifers. They do this because it’s tradition, they do it because they can control the genetics, vaccines, nutrition, they can control the breeding season length, and one major plus is that they are acclimated to your system (breeding season) and your environment.” It shared the example that “if a south Florida producer buys a set of heifers from out of state those heifers may struggle with the environmental difference between the two locations. They may exhibit a lag in breeding, lose weight, or even lose a calf. The same goes for bulls. Bulls raised in the same geographic region can adapt quicker to a new home.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.