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Heifer buy-weight planner

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Your plan

01Breeding starts
What date to use

The first breeding date: AI or bull turnout. For AI on a synch protocol, use the day the protocol starts if you want them at weight by then. Or start from when you want calving to begin: breeding starts one gestation earlier (283 days is a common average for Angus; heifers can run a little shorter), and each cycle you allow adds 21 days to the breeding season and to calving.

02Target at breeding

Target: 910 lb at breeding

Why 1,400 lb and 65%

1,400 lb is the mature weight of Angus cows at age five in USDA’s breed comparison (1,410 lb). Use your own cows’ weight if you know it. Common guidance is 60–65% of mature weight at first breeding. Lower targets can work on a high-quality ration, but pregnancy rates tend to drop.

03Keep the group uniform
What this does

How far from the target any heifer can be at breeding. Buying inside each date’s window keeps the whole group within this, as long as they gain alike.

04Daily gain, home to breeding
Planned, low and high

The buy weights use the planned gain. The low and high show how far a heifer could drift from the target if the ration runs slower or faster, and that drift grows the earlier you buy.

05Adjustments
Receiving and shrink

Receiving is the slow-gaining stretch while she settles in. Barn weights include fill; with shrink on, the buy weights shown are ticket weights.

Your plan is remembered on this device. The heifer check always opens on today.

Buy today

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Weight class
To breeding
days
Breeding starts
Target
lb

Plan

Check a heifer

Buy weight by date

Aim forUniform windowIf gain runs low / high

Her growth to breeding

At planned gainIf gain runs low / highTarget ± tolerance

Shopping list

Buy inside the window to keep the group uniform. Tap a date to check it.

    How the numbers are worked out
    • Days to breeding = breeding date minus buy date.
    • Gain = receiving days × receiving gain, plus the remaining days × your daily gain.
    • Weight needed at home = target minus gain at your planned daily gain. Ticket weight = home weight ÷ (1 − shrink). That is the aim-for weight.
    • The uniform window is the aim-for weight ± your tolerance (scaled for shrink). Heifers that gain alike keep the spread they arrived with, so a group bought inside the window reaches breeding inside the tolerance.
    • “Lands at” runs a heifer bought at the aim-for weight at your low and high gains. The longer she’s on feed, the wider that spread.
    • Gain is treated as steady. Winter on hay often runs slower than spring grass, so if most of her time is over winter, plan a lower gain.