Managing Young Heifers at the End of Grazing Season

Managing young heifers, both yearling heifers and first calf heifers, towards the end of the grazing season is crucial. While green growing grass can provide an appropriate diet for almost any class of cattle, dormant forage, such as cornstalk or hay, requires separating animals based on their different nutritional needs. First calf heifers, who are pregnant with their second calf, can typically continue to be managed with the cow herd during this time. Their slow growth rate can be sustained with protein and energy supplements. However, yearling heifers, pregnant with their first calf, need to be separated and given supplemental feed with additional energy to support their faster growth rate. Weighing the heifers and monitoring their growth progress is important for making informed management decisions.