Page 17 - DVAuction Online Catalogs

15
Selling 45 Commercial Bred Heifers • Lots 100-144
SArrAtt FArmS
heIFer
ProgrAm
Our goal in developing our commercial bred
heifers is simply to offer the very best of each crop
to enhance our customers' profit potential with each
purchase. This is done primarily through a rigorous
culling process at each stage of development. By
the time they sell, these heifers have been screened
several times to ensure that only the top end is
offered for purchase.
Once these heifers survive their weaning cut, they
are grown on a high roughage ration similar to
their bull contemporaries until they reach yearling
age. This allows for a slower rate of gain early
but it affords us the opportunity to evaluate how
their genetics will work in an environment where
they are not being pushed. Since the vast majority
of these heifers will go into programs that do not
feed intensively, we feel this system gives us a
realistic expression of their genetics in a low input
production system.
Three weeks prior to breeding we begin feeding
concentrate feed to this group of heifers along
with their daily roughage ration. This feeding will
continue throughout the breeding season until
they are determined pregnant. At this point in their
development they should be able to graze through
the summer with very little supplementation.
Due to the timing of the breeding season in relation
to the March sale date, all heifer information will
be provided on a sale day update sheet. This sheet
will provide the following for the commercial bred
heifers:
* Lot Number and Tattoo
* Birth Date
* AI and Pasture exposure dates
* Breeding Sire information
* Expected calving dates
* Current weights
* Individual Carcass Ultrasound Information
* Pelvic Area Measurements