Title | Profitability of calving heifers at 2 compared with 3 years of age and the effect of incidence of assistance at parturition on profitability |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2010 |
Authors | Hickson, R E. , Lopez-Villalobos N. , Kenyon P R. , Ridler B.J. , and Morris S T. |
Journal | Animal Production Science |
Volume | 50 |
Issue | 6 |
Pagination | 354 - 358 |
Date Published | 2010 |
ISBN Number | 18360939 (ISSN) |
Keywords | dystocia |
Abstract |
There is potential to increase the profitability of beef-breeding cows in New Zealand by calving heifers for the first time at 2 instead of 3 years of age; however, calving at this earlier age is often associated with an increase in assistance at calving. This study used a simulated farm system within the Grazing Systems Model to estimate the profitability of calving heifers at 2 years of age with various incidences of assistance at calving. Annual profit from the beef cattle herd was greater for primiparous 2-year-old heifers than for 3-year-old primiparous heifers when the incidence of assisted calving in 2-year-old heifers was less than 89%. Replacement rate increased with increased assistance at parturition. These results indicated that a considerable gain in profitability could be made by calving heifers for the first time at 2 instead of 3 years of age, and further gains could be made in herds already calving heifers at 2 years of age by reducing the incidence of assistance at calving. © 2010 CSIRO. |
URL | http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-77953749934&partnerID=40&md5=ae1681cf51bf066cbaf4c1df42a5d90b |