Nutrition for First-Calf Heifers

A first-calf heifer is still growing while she carries a calf, and soon after calving she has to nurse it and breed back. That is a lot to ask of one animal, and feeding is where most of the difference is made.

Key points

First-calf heifers have high needs because they grow, nurse and rebreed.
Use body condition scoring on the 1 to 9 scale and keep records.
Feed good quality before and after calving, and avoid both thin and fat extremes.
Work with your vet on calving and a rebreeding plan.

Why heifers have a harder job

A mature cow has finished growing. A first-calf heifer has not. She must support her own growth, her developing calf and, after calving, her milk production, all while getting ready to rebreed. Her needs are higher in proportion to her size than those of an older cow.

If she falls short on nutrition, the effects show up in several places: a harder calving, a weaker calf, less milk and a longer wait to cycle again. Because the cow-calf year is built around one calf per cow per year, that delay is expensive.

This is why many ranchers feed heifers separately from the mature cows instead of running them together.

Body condition targets

Body condition scoring on the 1 to 9 scale is the best everyday tool for judging heifers. Ask your veterinarian, nutritionist or extension specialist what score range to aim for at calving and at breeding for your breed and system. Targets differ a little by herd, so get advice that fits yours.

Score heifers at several points: at weaning, before breeding, mid pregnancy, before calving and after calving. Write the scores down. Trends matter more than any one number, and they give you time to fix a problem before it costs you. If your heifers vary in size, sort them into groups so the lighter ones can be fed more without putting too much on the big ones. A single average ration seldom suits a group with a wide spread.

Score at set times each year
Record the scores
Sort thin heifers out early
Adjust feed before the problem gets large

Feeding before calving

Heifers need good-quality feed through the last stretch of pregnancy, when the calf is growing fastest. Overfeeding to the point of fat can hurt, since very fat heifers can have trouble calving, and underfeeding can produce weak calves and slow recovery.

Test your forage and ask a nutritionist to build a ration. Do not guess at supplement amounts. Include minerals that match your forage and area, and make sure heifers get enough protein and energy for the stage of pregnancy. Keep an eye on weather too. Cold, wet and windy days raise what a heifer needs just to keep warm, and a ration that worked in October may fall short in January.

Feeding after calving

The weeks right after calving are the hardest. Milk production climbs, and the heifer must also regain condition and return to heat. Many producers feed first-calf heifers better than the mature cows during this period.

Provide good pasture or forage and a supplement as your nutritionist advises. Keep fresh water available at all times. Check each heifer and calf daily in the first weeks. Calves from heifers that milk poorly often grow slowly, which shows up at weaning. Good feed after calving helps both the heifer and the calf.

Calving ease and heifer selection

Nutrition is only one part of calving ease. Breed, bull choice, pelvic size and heifer development matter too. Ask your veterinarian and breed association about calving ease EPDs and other tools when choosing bulls for heifers.

Make sure heifers reach a good size and condition before breeding. A late-bred, thin or poorly grown heifer has more trouble all the way through. Work with your vet on a plan for breeding, pregnancy checking and calving.

Health, handling and records

Talk with your veterinarian about vaccination, parasite control and calving assistance. Know the signs of a difficult calving and when to call for help. Do not wait too long.

If any animal is treated, follow the withdrawal time on the label or from your vet exactly. Keep records of heifer weights, scores, breeding dates, calving events and treatments. Check heifers at least daily as calving approaches. Keep a clean, well-lit place to work, good fence, and the phone number for your vet where everyone can find it.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Common mistakes include feeding heifers with the old cows, failing to score condition, overfeeding before calving and ignoring the post-calving period. Another is selling or culling without enough information on why a heifer failed.

Ask your nutritionist: What ration fits my heifers and my feed? Ask your vet: What calving and rebreeding plan do you recommend? Ask your extension office about local forage and mineral needs.

Do not leave heifers in with mature cows
Do not skip body condition scoring
Do not wait until after calving to fix a thin heifer

When to get help: Ask a nutritionist or extension specialist to help with a heifer ration and condition targets, and call your veterinarian early about calving difficulty and rebreeding.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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