Cow heifers: what does it mean in animal husbandry and age, how to choose

Throughout life, cattle go through several stages of development, from a newborn calf to an adult animal. Each stage requires the attention of the farmer. Beginners before buying heifers of cows are advised to take into account the main features of their development. Many prefer to choose hetel. Such a purchase has a number of pros and cons.

What is a heifer in animal husbandry

Heifer is a heifer, or female cattle, which has never brought offspring, but has already been successfully fertilized. This term is used until the birth of the first calf. Subsequently, the cow is called a first-calf heifer.

What to look for when choosing an animal

Buying heifer is in agro-industrial farms or on specialized farms. In such places, the basic veterinary standards for breeding animals are observed. The main purpose of such organizations is the sale of livestock. Therefore, they are interested in growing he althy offspring. There you can also get information about the pedigree and information about the conditions of detention.

When buying an animal, you should consider the breed and other parameters:

Age - it is determined by the horns. The number of rings indicates the number of calving. When buying heifers, rings should be absent. The age of the cattle in this case is 14-20 months.
The state of he alth - it is judged by external signs. He althy individuals have clear eyes, a light pink tongue and the same lips. Equally important is a smooth coat with a beautiful sheen. It is also worth listening to the breathing of a cow.It should not be heaviness, coughing or wheezing. Visually, the animal should be well-fed. Any signs of exhaustion are unacceptable.
Torso - must be properly developed and proportionate.
Behavior - it is important that it be balanced.

Advantages and disadvantages of buying

If a farmer plans to buy a pregnant cow at a good gestational age, it is worth analyzing the main pros and cons of such an acquisition.

Pros and consBargain. A second animal will appear on the farm in the near future.The opportunity to raise an individual for yourself. When buying an adult cow, there is a risk of encountering many negative qualities.The ability to adapt the cow to a new place of detention and regime. This is true if there is a certain time before calving.Independent choice of technique for subsequent milking. In this case, the farmer has the opportunity to gradually adapt the cow to him.Minimal threat of gynecological pathologies.Minimal risk of latent mastitis. This is due to the fact that the heifer does not have lactation.High price. This is due to the purchase of 2 animals at the same time - the heifer itself and its future calf.Unpredictable development of subsequent events. It is impossible to predict the milk yield of a cow. It is also impossible to foresee her behavior after calving.Wrong diet before purchase. In this case, it will need to be finalized or new products introduced. Adapting a cow to a new diet can be quite difficult.The appearance of latent infections or diseases.

Usually it is possible to determine the quality of a heifer by the older generation. Of course, it is impossible to get a 100% guarantee, but the chances of a farmer to buy a productive cow increase.

How to know that a cow is pregnant and give birth

To determine pregnancy, you should pay attention to physiological and behavioral signs.

These include the following:

pregnancy becomes more cautious and calm;
already in the first weeks of pregnancy, appetite increases significantly;
cow's coat becomes smoother and shinier - she seems very well groomed;
clear mucus comes out of the vagina;
hunt state disappears.

To understand that a cow is preparing for childbirth, it is worth paying attention to certain changes. They will be visible even to novice farmers. The approach of calving can be suspected by the following symptoms:

swelling of the genitals - while there is swelling of the genital gap;
udder swelling;
appearance of discharge of milk from the nipples;
opening of the genital slit and mucous discharge from the vagina - they indicate the departure of the cork.

The appearance of external changes is the basis for constant monitoring of the animal, since the calf will be born in the next few hours. The cow does not need special care during calving. During fights, it is recommended to wash the female with soapy water - it should be warm. Then the animal is dried.

If the cow is lying on her side, she needs to put a pillow of hay under her head. At the first hotel, the animal needs to be constantly calmed down. When severe stress appears, combing the sides with a stiff brush will help calm the animal.

Features of heifer feeding

For a cow to be productive and he althy, it must be properly fed. Many pathologies in first-calf heifers are associated with disorders in the diet before calving. An unbalanced diet of heifers reduces the productivity of animals after childbirth by 20-25%.

On top of this, heifers need to be massaged and provide full benefits. It is very important to follow these rules 2-3 months before calving.

When heifers are not fed properly, the content of ketone bodies in the blood increases, there is an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus, and the alkaline reserve decreases. After calving, the amount of immunoglobulins, proteins, vitamins, and fats in colostrum decreases.

If heifers are not fat enough, it is difficult for them to transfer calving. Such animals are not able to recover for a long time. Insufficient fatness can also lead to problems during milking of heifers at the initial stage of lactation.

This is because it is difficult for an emaciated cow to get the nutrients it needs to produce milk. Therefore, at the initial stage of lactation, it is usually not possible to normalize the body weight of first-calf heifers.

Pet Care Rules

In order for heifers to fully develop and remain he althy, it is important for them to provide good living conditions. A pregnant cow needs a separate large box. It is also permissible to keep it in a tethered way. There should be no dirt or drafts in the heifer room. It is important to ensure that the floor is not slippery. Also, it should not contain sharp protrusions or have uneven areas. In normal weather, the duration of grazing should be 2-4 hours a day.

In the summer, heifers with a herd are recommended to graze on the pasture. It is important to provide the cow with clean and dry bedding.

After calving, it is recommended to wash and dry the cow well. At the same time, the calf must be left near the mother for 14-20 hours. After 30 minutes, the heifer should be given warm water to drink.

After 12 days after calving, the cow needs a more abundant and nutritious diet. As an additive, fodder beets should be used.It is also permissible to use special concentrates. Milking first-calf heifers is recommended especially carefully. It is important to do this not with pinches, but with a fist. When choosing a heifer of cows, it is recommended to take into account a number of features. These include age, he alth status, appearance. When buying heifers, they need to ensure proper care and balanced nutrition.