Tag: Herd Management

Selecting and Maintaining Cattle Replacements 

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Selecting and Maintaining Cattle Replacements

Selecting and maintaining replacement heifers is the future of the herd, building on the best of what your genetics have to offer and hopefully carrying that on to the next generations of terminal and replacement animals. But breeding up or even maintaining the quality of your genetic pool doesn’t happen by accident.

Heifer replacements and breeding goals go hand and hand. Having breeding goals can help you further develop what the heifer replacements should look like or what the standard is.

A big part of developing a heifer replacement program is to understand bull selection and if and when a herd bull is appropriate for furthering your replacement program. Another big portion of having influential and strong replacement heifers is managing them and raising them to be just that. All of these decisions then need to fit into the budget and provide a positive return on investment (ROI).

Breeding Goals

The cow-calf operator is in a bit of a delicate balancing act when making mating decisions. Terminal traits are extremely important to focus on, but they must counterbalance with strong enough maternal influence.

Of course, needs will look differently for herds also relying on purchasing part of their replacement animals. Environment, operational and managerial values and local market may all factor in.

When determining a replacement heifer objective, we want to make sure we are improving the overall herd genetics. This might include selecting for improved fertility (such as daughters from cows that conceive first and calve early in the season), better udder quality and teat structure, increased longevity, moderate mature size for efficiency and structural soundness that supports better longevity and productivity. In some operations, producers may also prioritize traits like feed efficiency or adaptability to specific environmental stressors such as heat tolerance, parasite resistance or forage limitations.

Bull Selection

You can’t discuss the quality of your replacements without mentioning the bull who is contributing fifty percent of their genetic material. It goes without saying that there should always be a strong focus on economic and carcass traits. But in the case of bulls that will sire heifers who will be around for many years, there are a few additional considerations.

Of importance are structural and behavioral traits. Structural soundness—particularly feet and legs—directly impacts a female’s ability to graze, breed and remain productive over time. Likewise, health traits such as udder quality and overall durability are moderately heritable and play a role in longevity.

Temperament should also not be overlooked. Not only are docile females easier to handle, but they are also more likely to pass that disposition on to their offspring. Research demonstrates that calmer cattle tend to have improved average daily gain and feed efficiency, as less energy diverts toward stress responses and more toward growth and muscling.

It is also widely accepted that scrotal circumference in bulls is correlated with reproductive performance in their daughters. Bulls with larger scrotal circumference EPDs tend to sire daughters that reach puberty earlier and have improved lifetime fertility.

Replacement Heifer Management

Select and separate Replacement heifers from the herd at weaning or shortly thereafter, often around six to eight months of age, depending on the operation and management system.

Before physically examining animals, go in having a short list of your most desirables according to the EPDs if you have them. There are a multitude of ways to rank and analyze them to allow for the best decision making. But generally, you want to include fertility, calving ease, growth, and maternal traits. From there, you can evaluate based on the phenotype you’re observing and further thin them out if necessary by removing any that lack body capacity, appear unthrifty or have significant structural issues that may impair mobility or future calving ability.

For purchasing heifers, you want to know health status such as vaccination history, disease resistance, and parasite control and make sure it can be incorporated into your herd. When it comes to heifer replacements bred on the farm, it is additionally important to have a vaccination program. For a breeding heifer purchase, you may require a pre-breeding evaluation.

Raising a healthy heifer means having a solid and developed nutrition program which can look differently depending on location and resources available for the rancher. No matter the environment, a good nutrition program is foundational to raising healthy and productive replacements.

Generally speaking, a ballpark breeding age for first calf heifers is 12 to 15 months assuming that they reach approximately 60 to 65 percent of their expected mature body weight at the start of the breeding season.

At this stage of growth, conception rates should be monitored closely to confirm if these replacements are worth retaining for the duration of their productive lives. Not having to rebreed or AI multiple times, even if imperfect, always helps the bottom line.

Once again, the health program may look different for a purchased animal vs a home bred and raised heifer. Both should have a vaccination schedule and for animals purchased, they should have records that you can include in your record books.

Finally, biosecurity practices for your herd and farm are pivotal to keep calves healthy. Bringing new animals in should go through a quarantine process before joining the rest of the herd.

Some of the Economics

Economics drive most decisions on the farm or ranch, and keeping good records of the breeding program and the tied financials can help determine if your replacement heifer program is being cost effective.

There is a lot that can go into the economic portion, including individual animal ROI. A cow that remains productive for several years by calving regularly and weaning a healthy calf spreads out her development and maintenance costs over time, making her significantly more profitable than one that leaves the herd early.

Part of a good replacement is being able to provide longevity and continue to be productive through that time.

Once management costs increase and productivity starts to fall off for an animal, it might be time to make a cull decision. Understanding this can help you determine how you want to implement your replacements and also a cull program.

For some, providing all the replacements may not be feasible, but purchasing replacements may be beneficial to the herd setup.

Return on investment in a replacement heifer program is largely driven by development costs, reproductive success, longevity, and calf performance. Studies have shown that it can take two to three calves before a heifer has paid back her initial development cost, meaning early culling or reproductive failure significantly reduces profitability. Heifers that conceive early in the breeding season and calve early tend to remain more productive over their lifetime, weaning heavier calves and generating more cumulative revenue. Additionally, controlling input costs—feed, health and labor—while maintaining performance is key to maximizing ROI.

It is additionally important to understand the market conditions and how that would impact replacements in addition to herd expansion and contraction decisions. In stronger cattle markets, retaining more heifers may make sense to expand and capture future revenue, while in tighter markets, stricter culling and selective replacement strategies may be necessary.

June 2026

By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Cattlemen

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How GEA Dairy Herd Management Systems Improve Efficiency

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Sorting that Keeps Herd Management Moving

Act faster, streamline labor and bring more consistency to your herd.

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. [May 7, 2026] – Top-performing dairies don’t just identify the cows that need attention; they act on that information immediately. When herd monitoring and sort gates work together, it becomes easier to follow through consistently and ensure nothing gets missed.

“If a cow gets identified but nothing happens next, you lose the value of that information. Sorting closes that loop,” says Stephanie Finn, business development manager for herd management solutions at GEA.

Here’s how top-performing dairies use sorting and monitoring together to drive more consistent results:

1. Turn identification into action

The strongest routines don’t rely on someone remembering to act — they build routines that ensure the right cows are sorted and managed every time.

“Monitoring is going to identify the cow, and the sorting mechanism ensures that she’s acted on,” says Jamie Fox, product manager at GEA. “It turns a search process into a controlled workflow.”

For example, instead of locking up an entire pen to check fresh cow temperatures each morning, one Washington dairy uses health scores from their monitoring system to automatically sort only the cows that need attention after milking. Because monitoring and sorting work together, cows are identified and addressed in the same pass. The result is less unnecessary handling, faster response times and more consistent protocols.

Instead of reacting after issues escalate, farms can respond earlier, improving health and reproduction outcomes.

“You’re putting the right cows in front of employees to apply treatment, then sending them right back,” Finn explains. “If a cow doesn’t need to be handled, let her be a cow.”

2. Build trust through results

Adopting new technology often comes with skepticism, especially from experienced team members who already perform at a high level.

Finn recalls working with a highly skilled breeder who initially doubted the system. After comparing monitoring system data to pregnancy checks, he found that most open cows had shown heat, even when he didn’t catch it visually.

That insight changed how he worked. Instead of relying solely on observation, he began using alerts to act faster and time insemination more precisely, even if it meant breeding at off-hours. He improved performance in an area where he already excelled.

“That’s where these systems shine,” says Finn. “They don’t replace good people — they help them perform even better.”

That kind of proof is often what turns skepticism into consistent action.

3. Create discipline and accountability

Technology only works if people use it — and use it the same way every day.

“High-performing dairies don’t always have more technology,” says Fox. “Their execution is better, and that’s where operational discipline comes in.”

Successful farms operationalize their systems in three ways:

  • Establishing clear protocols for acting on alerts
  • Building daily routines around key data points
  • Ensuring team alignment and accountability

“Most challenges come down to management and consistency,” says Finn. “If employees aren’t willing to utilize the information, you’re not going to get your money back out of it.”

For example, some dairies designate one employee per shift to work the sort pen, ensuring no cows are missed and no decisions are delayed.

Clear protocols and consistent follow-through are what keep good information from going unused.

4. Maintain the system to protect accuracy

Minor issues can quickly erode performance if left unchecked.

“Small inconsistencies in maintenance, repeated day after day, can lead to bigger financial losses over time,” says Fox.

Monitoring systems rely on accurate, consistent data. Proper tag placement, functioning antennas, battery life, system connectivity and timely maintenance all play a role. If a reader goes down or tags aren’t transmitting correctly, farms can start missing heats or health changes within days, quickly undermining trust in the system.

“The human element in maintenance is often overlooked,” Finn notes. “But it’s critical to keep the system working as intended.”

Simple routines — like regularly checking tag function, walking antennas and reviewing system alerts — can prevent larger issues down the line.

5. Maximize value with ongoing support

Getting started is only the beginning. Ongoing support often makes the difference between seeing a return and leaving value on the table.

Working with connected systems, especially from a single provider, can help reduce delays between insight and action, making it easier to keep protocols moving.

“These aren’t set-it-and-forget-it tools,” says Finn. “You need ongoing training and someone to guide you as you’re ready to take the next step.”

Farms that get the most value from these systems tend to:

  • Continuously refine protocols
  • Expand how they use alerts and data
  • Revisit goals as performance improves
  • Lean on trusted advisors for support

“They’re always asking, ‘What more can we get out of this system?’” she adds.

For example, a farm that starts with fresh cow monitoring may later expand into reproduction protocols, then labor optimization — building value step by step.

Farms that see the greatest return continue learning, refining and expanding how they use them.

Monitoring systems identify the right cows. Sort gates ensure something actually happens next. When paired with consistent execution, farms can respond faster, reduce labor inefficiencies and improve herd performance.

When monitoring and sorting work together, farms can act faster and improve follow-through. Contact your local GEA dealer to learn more.

About GEA

GEA is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and components to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

The international technology group, founded in 1881, focuses on machinery and plants, as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. For instance, every second pharma separator for essential healthcare products such as vaccines or novel biopharmaceuticals is produced by GEA. In food, every fourth package of pasta or every third chicken nugget are processed with GEA technology.

With more than 18,000 employees, the group generated sales of about EUR 5.5 billion in more than 150 countries in the 2025 fiscal year. GEA plants, processes, components and services enhance the efficiency and sustainability of customers’ production. They contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, plastic usage and food waste. In doing so, GEA makes a key contribution toward a sustainable future, in line with the company’s purpose: “Engineering for a better world.”

GEA is listed on the German DAX, the European STOXX® Europe 600 Index and is also a constituent of the leading sustainability indices DAX 50 ESG, MSCI Global Sustainability and Dow Jones Best-in-Class World.

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Bought the Bull, Now What?

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Introduction

Bull sale season brings producers and cattle enthusiasts together across the nation at various sales rain or shine. While everyone has their own set of criteria to follow, they all are looking for their perfect bull. When the gavel strikes, and ownership is transferred, excitement and happiness is soon to follow for the respective buyer. The bull may stay at the breeder’s operation for further development with a later pick up date or it may be able to be trailered up that same day to come home. No matter when the bull makes it to their new home and herd, being prepared to give this new herd member the proper welcome is imperative for future success.

Get prepared.

It is always best to be prepared rather than playing catch up for anything, and the addition of a new herd bull is no exception. Is there a proper housing area available? Is there time and space available for quarantine? What is the nutrition plan? Is the waterer working? Is a vet check necessary? This is a short compilation of questions producers should ask themselves as they prepare to bring this new animal into their herd.

Bulls require space to exercise with solid fence lines. Ensuring fences are in good repair with no holes, broken posts, or damaged lines will reduce incidences of animals that get out. Decide where the new bull will be housed and walk the fence line to ensure there are little to no repairs needed. Examine feed bunks and water fountains for damage and ensure water fountains are working correctly. If the waterer is dirty, be sure to clean it shortly before bringing the bull home. Cattle prefer fresh and clean water, and a clean water source will ensure the animal will stay hydrated during this move to a new environment.

Many bulls come with a health guarantee or certificate from the seller or consignor, but it is good practice to have your veterinarian conduct a full health exam on any new animal being introduced to the herd. This can help spot problems early before they develop into larger concerns. Also, this allows you to gain familiarity with your new bull to spot behavioral changes in the future. If there is a health concern found during this exam, treatment can be received immediately.

All new animals entering a herd should experience a quarantine time of a minimum of 30 days, but ideally up to 60 days. This allows any illnesses not visually present at first arrival to present themselves and any shedding of pathogens to cease. Additionally, during this time there should be no contact with the existing herd. Whether it be through nose-to-nose contact or through manure, feed, or water.

Acclimation and Nutritional Changes

Integrating a new herd bull into a preexisting group of bulls can be a daunting task. Bulls form social hierarchies, and adding a new member to the mix disrupts the previously formed rankings. “Breakdown” sometimes occurs before bulls are turned out to pasture, and this can be due to fighting. New bulls should not be turned into a pen of established bulls, they should be allowed time to acclimate to minimize risk of injury.

Extra caution should be taken when combining yearling and mature bulls. Yearlings can become overpowered by mature bulls, and injuries can occur. If possible, run bulls alongside each other with secure fencing for a period of time before running them together. When joined, fighting may still occur, but it should be less severe. If it is not possible to run bulls alongside each other, join them together in a large field or pen with ample space to escape from fights and to keep distance among themselves.

As buyers, you do not want to see bulls lose condition rapidly after being turned out on pasture. This loss of condition can negatively impact bull fertility and breeding performance. Providing a nutrition adjustment can help prepare these young bulls for pasture turn out. Bulls are typically developed on an energy-dense diet to achieve a high rate of gain and greater growth performance. Gradually adjusting bulls back to a forage-based diet before turning out to pasture will allow bulls to better maintain condition.

This gradual change in nutrition is important for sperm development, or spermatogenesis. This process occurs over 60-day periods, so sperm produced during a nutritional imbalance can impact breeding success 2 months later. A goal average daily gain for yearling bulls prior to breeding should be 1.5 to 2 pounds per day with a diet containing 10 to 11% crude protein. This allows these animals to meet requirements for growth and reproduction. Given this, bulls should ideally have a body condition score (abbreviated as BCS) of 6 prior to breeding season. Naturally, bulls can lose 100 to 200 pounds during breeding season, so giving them some extra condition allows bulls to lose some weight without negatively impacting sperm quality.

March 2026

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