Bovine Science with BCI

The Beef Cattle Institute

Author: BCI Cattle Chat

Listen to veterinary professionals from the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University talk about a variety of topics within cattle health, nutrition, reproduction, and science. New episodes of Bovine Science with BCI are posted each Monday.
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Language: en-us

Genres: Education, Science

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Herd Health: Heifer Selection Strategies
Monday, 12 January, 2026

On Herd Health, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Bob Larson discuss a 2025 study in the Canadian Journal of Animal Science on factors influencing heifer replacement and cow-calf profitability. The study focused on cow feed efficiency, longevity, heterosis, and lifetime productivity. Key findings include the importance of longevity, with heifers staying longer in the herd being more profitable. Crossbreeding, particularly those with more heterosis, reduced costs. Residual feed intake (RFI) was crucial, with lower RFI cows being more efficient and cost-effective. The study used data from 2011 to 2018, accounting for economic fluctuations, and found no significant differences between breeds. Article Discussed: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385812533_Effects_of_cow_feed_efficiency_longevity_heterosis_and_lifetime_productivity_on_profitability_of_heifer_selection_and_cow-calf_operations