Virginia Premium Assured Heifers

Livestock Update, November 1999

John B. Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech

The Virginia Premium Assured Heifers Program (VA PAH) is a program for breeders of replacement heifers conducted by Virginia Cooperative Extension to begin this fall. The goal of this heifer development program is to produce, for home use or sale, replacement heifers that are healthy, reproductively sound and of known genetic value. Buyers of these heifers can be assured that heifers were screened for physical and reproductive defects and received a proper health program. A second level of the program assures the genetic background of the heifer as well.

Heifers are raised on the home farm or by private contractors. Extension specialists and agents will work with producers and veterinarians to design a management program to meet the goals of the VA Premium Assured Heifers Program. This includes assistance with nutrition, reproductive management, breeding and health programs. In addition, extension specialists will help groups of producers work with sales management professionals such as sale barns, breed associations and the Virginia Cattlemen's association to market their heifers.

There are two levels to the program -- Virginia Premium Assured and Virginia Premium Assured Plus. Heifers can either be bred or open. The Premium Assured level requirements are similar to the Kentucky Elite and Missouri Show-Me Select heifer programs. The Premium Assured Plus level includes requirements on the genetic merit (EPD's) of the sire of the heifer. The requirements for Virginia Premium Assured Heifers include:

1. Physical condition -- age, frame, structure, body condition and weight (open only)
2. Reproductive soundness -- age at conception (bred) or reproductive tract score (open) and pelvic area (open)
3. Health -- vaccinations and parasite control, no physical defects or horns, and a negative anaplasmosis test
4. Calf Genetics -- (bred only) service sire has low birth weight EPD and meets VQA minimums for growth

1. Meet all requirements of the Premium Assured level
2. Heifer Genetics -- heifers must be sired by bulls that meet minimum requirements for growth and milk.

Heifers meeting the Virginia PAH requirements are eligible to sell as Virginia Premium Assured or Virginia Premium Assured Plus. No second owner cattle are allowed unless they were purchased as VA Premium Assured open heifers. Virginia Premium Assured Heifers may be sold by any group or individual provided all requirements are met and verified. Verification is conducted by the local Virginia Premium Assured Heifer Committee consisting of at least 2 producers and the local animal science extension agent.

Individuals or groups interested in participating in the Virginia Premium Assured Heifers program or wanting more specific information should contact Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Virginia Tech at 540-231-9153 or jbhall@vt.edu.

Age -- Stated birth date with projected age at calving being 22 to 26 months of age (Spring calving heifers); 22-30 months of age (Fall Calving heifers).

Frame size -- All heifers must be frame score 4.5-6.5

Structure -- All heifers must be deemed structurally correct by the local Virginia Premium Assured Heifer Committee.

Muscling -- All heifers must posses adequate muscling without being extreme. Muscling score 2-4 on the Virginia BCIA muscling system

Body Condition Score -- All heifers must be BCS 5 to 7 (1=emaciated; 9=obese)

Genetic Requirements

Breeds -- Any breed or breed combinations are eligible, but breeds must be specified

Service sires

• Service sire must be identified
• Minimum EPD requirements (based on birth year of bull) All service sires must be in the best 40% for birth weight (BW) and breed average for WW and YW. No requirement for milk EPD, but milk EPD must be listed.

Reproductive requirements

Conceived within restricted time period -- All heifers must have conceived within the first 50 days following initial artificial inseminations and/or natural mating.

Vaccinations

• Calfhood brucellosis vaccination
• IBR-PI3, BVD, 7-way clostridial, 5-way leptospirosis (2 doses)

Tests

• Negative Anaplasmosis test within 30 days
• Virginia is a TB free state no tests required for native Virginia cattle

Parasite controls

• Fall sales - Indectacide within 60 days and before November 1.
• Spring sales - Indectacide within 30 days and after February 1.

Defects

• Heifers with bad eyes, horns, rat-tails, bob tails or frozen ears will not be accepted
• Any lame animals will not be accepted.

Sire of heifer

• Sire of heifer must be identified
• Minimum EPD requirements (based on birth year of bull)
• British X British or straightbred British heifers. Sire must be in the top 50% for WW and YW and top 70% for Milk.
• Continental, Continental X Continental or Continental X British heifers. Sire must be in the top 70% of the breed for WW, YW and Milk.

Maternal Grandsire of heifer

• Identification of maternal grandsire is optional but encouraged
• Minimum EPD standards for maternal grandsires may be established in 2002.

Physical Requirements

Age -- Stated birth date with age at sale being 8 to 17 months of age.

Frame size -- All heifers must be frame score 4.5-6.5

Structure -- All heifers must be deemed structurally correct by the local Virginia Premium Assured Heifer committee and animal science extension agent

Muscling -- All heifers must posses adequate muscling without being extreme. Muscling score 2-4 on the VA BCIA muscling system

Body Condition Score -- All heifers must be BCS 5 to 7 (1=emaciated; 9=obese)

Percent Mature Weight -- All heifers 12 months of age and older must be at least 65% of their mature weight as estimated by frame size

Breeds -- Any breed or breed combinations are eligible, but breeds must be specified

Pelvic area -- All heifers 12 month old or older must have pelvic areas measured and have at least 12 sq cm per month of age. Pelvic areas need to be reported but will not listed be listed in the sale catalogue.

Reproductive tract score -- All heifers 12 month old or older must have a reproductive tract score or 3 or better. (Colorado State reproductive tract score scale)

Vaccinations

• Calfhood brucellosis vaccination
• IBR-PI3, BVD, 7-way clostridial, 5-way leptospirosis

Tests

• Negative Anaplasmosis test within 3 days
• Virginia is a TB free state no tests required for native Virginia cattle

Parasite controls

• Fall sales - Indectacide within 60 days and before November 1.
• Spring sales - Indectacide within 30 days and after February 1.

Defects

• Heifers with bad eyes, horns, rat-tails, bob tails or frozen ears will not be accepted
• Any lame animals will not be accepted.

Sire of heifer

• Sire of heifer must be identified
• Minimum EPD requirements (based on birth year of bull)

  British X British or straightbred British heifers. Sire must be in the top 50% for WW and YW and top 70% for Milk.

  Continental, Continental X Continental or Continental X British heifers. Sire needs to be in the top 70% of the breed for WW, YW and Milk.

Maternal Grandsire of heifer

• Identification of maternal grandsire is optional but encouraged
• Minimum EPD standards for maternal grandsires may be established in 2002.

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