Heifers have a dairy Christmas sweater

The reduction in mature cows over several years of drought has seen a change in the breeding herd age profile in most areas, with younger cows and heifers being retained to form a nucleus for herd rebuilding. While the genetic progress of many herds may increase with greater numbers of younger females considered for joining, there are some key considerations producers should also factor into their decisions around joining groups, principally among Bos Taurus cattle. These factors include the choice of sires to be used over heifers, the timing of joining, and significantly what females should be retained and how long will they be used within a herd.