The Cow-Calf Manager:
Systematic Heifer Development -- The Virginia Premium Assured Way

Livestock Update, August 2000

John Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef,Virginia Tech

The Virginia Premium Assured Heifer (VAPAH) Program is off to a good start. Over 300 heifers were enrolled last year and producers were pleased with the program. At least four sales will feature Virginia Premium Assured Heifers between Fall 2000 and Spring 2001. The VAPAH program is an educational and technical assistance program for producers who raise or market replacement heifers. Remember you don't have to sell your heifers to be part of the program. Producers will receive summarized heifer data as well as technical assistance.

The process for developing heifers using VA Premium Assured methods is not difficult, but it is easier if the process is carried out in stages. The process is the same for fall calving or spring calving heifers. The critical stages and processes are as follows:

Weaning (6 to 10 months of age)

• Select heifers to keep for replacements - good growth, structurally sound, medium framed (4.5 - 6.5) and adequately muscled
• Vaccinate heifers for IBR-PI3, BVD, BRSV, 7-way clostridial and 5-way leptospirosis
• Vaccinate against brucellosis (Bang's)
• Treat for internal and external parasites
• Body condition score heifers and weigh (if possible)
• Plan nutrition program to have heifers at 65% of mature weight at the start of the breeding season. Use of Rumensin( or is Bovatec( highly encouraged. Heifers usually need to gain 1.5 to 1.75 lbs. per day. See your county agent or nutritionist for assistance.
• Begin to identify bull to meet service sire requirements (best 40% for BW and VQA for growth)
• Send in nomination form

Prebreeding (13 to 14 months of age)

• Re-evaluate structure, frame, muscling and growth
• Weigh and body condition score heifers
• Treat for internal (spring and fall) and external parasites (fall)
• Repeat vaccinations for 5-way Lepto (required). Vaccination for vibrio is encouraged. Also IBR-PI3, BVD, BRSV and 7-way clostridial if needed.
• Reproductive exam -- reproductive tract score and pelvic area measurements
• Make sure service sire meets VAPAH requirements. Use of estrus synchronization and AI are encouraged.
• Have local VAPAH committee evaluate heifers ( required for open sale heifers only)
• Plan nutrition program to have heifers at 90% of mature weight by calving. Heifers need to gain 1.5 to 1.75 lbs. per day. See your county agent or nutritionist for assistance.
• Submit Pre-breeding Examination Form (include all heifers examined)

Pregnancy Exam (16 to 18 months of age)

• Weigh and body condition score heifers
• Pregnancy check heifers
• Booster 5-way Lepto
• Have local VAPAH committee evaluate heifers ( required for pregnant sale heifers only; recommended for new VAPAH producers keeping heifers at home )
• Submit Pregnancy Examination Form (report all heifers including open and late bred heifers)

Special Requirements for VAPAH Sale Heifers

• Negative Anaplasmosis test within 30 days of sale
• Treated with Endectacide within 60 days of fall sales and within 30 days of spring sales
• No defects -- bad eyes, frozen ears, horns, rat-tails or bob tails
• No lame animals

Service Sire - Minimum EPD's for 2000 - 2001 VAPAH
Birth Weight must be less than or equal to listed EPD

Bulls for Commercial Heifers

Breed	Angus	Charolais	Gelbvieh	Hereford	Red Angus S	immental
BW EPD	+ 2.3	- 9.7	- 5.5	- 2.3	- 1.4	- 5.5

Bulls for Purebred Heifers (bred to bulls of their breed)

Breed	Angus	Charolais	Gelbvieh	Hereford	Red Angus	Simmental
BW EPD	+ 2.3	+ 1.5	+ 1.6	+ 3.4	+ 0.1	+ 2.9

Growth must be greater than or equal to listed EPD.

British sires & most Continental sires -- Must be breed average for WW and/ or YW for the year the bull was born. See VQA Chart.

Charolais, Gelbvieh and Simmental -- Must be in the top 70% for WW and/or YW for year bull was born. See VQA Chart.

EPD Requirements for VQA Purple Tag and VAPAH Programs. Sire minimums by breed and year.

	Yearling Weight EPD Birth Year							Weaning Weight EPD Birth Year
	1998-'99	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993		1998-'99	1997	19961	995	1994	1993
Angus	57	56	51	44	42	40		31	31	29	27	25	24
Charolais*	15	15	-2	-2	-3	-5		8	8	-1	-2	-2	-3
Gelbvieh*	56	53	5	5	3	4		31	30	2	2	1	2
Hereford	55	52	50	46	44	43		32	31	29	27	23	23
Limousin	20	17	17	12	10	8		11	9	9	6	5	4
Red Angus	44	43	37	38	35	30		26	25	23	24	22	21
Salers	18	17	17	15	15	13		11	10	10	9	9	8
Shorthorn	18	23	25	20	20	20		12	15	16	12	13	13
Simmental*	54	47	42	8	7	5		33	32	27	4	4	3
Tarentaise		7	22	20	19	17			1	12	11	10	9

* 70 % level

Premium Assured Plus level
VA Premium Assured Plus is another level of the program above the Premium Assured level. At this level, the heifers were sired by bulls meeting specific EPD requirements for growth (VQA requirements) and milk (top 70% of breed).

Current list of VAPAH Sales

Sale	Location	Date	VAPAH Type
Blackstone BCIA	Blackstone Livestock Market	November 17, 2000	Bred and Open
Front Royal	Virginia Livestock, Front Royal	November 18, 2000	Bred
Staunton BCIA	Expo Land, Fishersville	December 2, 2000	Bred
Virginia Beef Expo Commercial Heifer	Virginia Horse Center, Lexington	April __, 2001	Bred and Open

Additional details and information about the VAPAH program can be obtained from John B. Hall, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Virginia Tech, phone 540-231-9153 or e-mail jbhall@vt.edu.

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