Definition of heifers of cows in animal husbandry and what age it is, how to choose
Throughout their life, cattle go through several stages of development, ranging from a newborn calf to an adult animal. Each stage requires careful attention from the farmer. Beginners are advised to consider the main features of their development before purchasing heifers. Many people prefer to choose a heifer. This purchase has a number of pros and cons.
What is a heifer in animal husbandry
A heifer is a heifer, or female cattle, which has never bore offspring, but has already been successfully fertilized. This term is used before the birth of the first calf. Subsequently, the cow is called the first calf.
What to look for when choosing an animal
It is worth buying a heifer in agro-industrial farms or on specialized farms. In such places, the basic veterinary standards for animal breeding are observed. The main purpose of such organizations is considered to be the sale of livestock. Therefore, they are interested in raising healthy offspring. There you can also get information about the pedigree and information regarding the conditions of detention.
When buying an animal, it is worth considering the breed and other parameters:
- Age - it is determined by the horns. The number of rings indicates the number of calving. When buying a heifer, the rings should be missing. The cattle age in this case is 14-20 months.
- The state of health is judged by external signs. Healthy individuals have clear eyes, a light pink tongue, and similar lips. Of no small importance is a smooth coat with a beautiful sheen. It is also worth listening to the cow breathing. There should be no heaviness, coughing or wheezing. Visually, the animal should be well-fed. Any signs of exhaustion are unacceptable.
- The torso must be properly developed and proportional.
- Behavior - it is important that it is balanced.
Advantages and disadvantages of buying
If a farmer plans to buy a pregnant cow in a good gestation period, it is worth analyzing the main pros and cons of such an acquisition.
Usually it is possible to determine the qualities of the heifer by the older generation. Of course, you cannot get a 100% guarantee, but the chances of a farmer to buy a productive cow increase.
How to find out that a cow is pregnant and give birth
To determine pregnancy, it is worth paying attention to physiological and behavioral signs.
These include the following:
- the pregnant individual becomes more careful and calm;
- already in the first weeks of pregnancy, appetite increases significantly;
- the cow's coat becomes smoother and shinier - it seems very well-groomed;
- transparent mucus is secreted from the vagina;
- the hunting state disappears.
To understand that the 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 a swelling of the genital fissure;
- swelling of the udder;
- the appearance of milk discharge from the nipples;
- the opening of the genital gap 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 wiped off.
If the cow is lying on its side, it needs a hay pillow under its head. At the first calving, the animal must be constantly reassured. When a lot of stress appears, brushing the sides with a stiff brush will help calm the animal.
Features of feeding heifers
For a cow to be productive and healthy, she needs to be fed properly. Many pathologies in first-calf heifers are associated with disturbances in the diet before calving. An unbalanced diet of heifers reduces the productivity of animals after giving birth by 20-25%.
With improper nutrition of heifers in the blood, the content of ketone bodies increases, an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus occurs, and the alkaline reserve decreases. After calving, the volume of immunoglobulins, proteins, vitamins, and fats decreases in colostrum.
If the heifers are undernourished, it is difficult for them to tolerate calving. Such animals are not able to recover for a long time. Lack of fatness can also lead to problems when first-heifers are milked during the initial stage of lactation.
This is because it is difficult for an emaciated cow to provide the nutrients required for milk production. Therefore, at the initial stage of lactation, it is usually not possible to normalize the body weight of first-calf heifers.
Animal care rules
In order for heifers to fully develop and remain healthy, it is important for them to provide good housing conditions. A pregnant cow needs a separate large box. It is also permissible to keep it in a tethered way. The heifer house must be free of dirt or drafts. It is important to ensure that the floor is not slippery.Also, it should not contain sharp protrusions or uneven areas. In normal weather, the duration of grazing should be 2-4 hours per day.
In the summertime, heifer and herd are recommended to graze on pasture. It is important to provide the cow with clean and dry bedding.
After calving, it is recommended that the cow is thoroughly washed and dried. In this case, the calf must be left near the mother for 14-20 hours. After 30 minutes, the first heifer should be drunk with warm water.
12 days after calving, the cow needs a more abundant and nutritious diet. Beetroot should be used as an additive. It is also permissible to use special concentrates. Milking first heifers is recommended especially carefully. It is important to do this not with pinches, but with your fist. When choosing a heifer, it is recommended to consider a number of features. These include age, health, appearance. When buying heifers, they need to provide proper care and balanced nutrition.
