An Open Heifer: To Keep or Not To Keep

An Open Heifer: To Keep or Not To Keep One question that arises every year for cattle producers is what to do with weaned heifers. See the Ask IFAS publication FE1153, The Economics of Raising Replacement Heifers: Estimating Direct Costs Using the Replacement Heifer Calculator . When deciding to keep an open replacement heifer to breed the next year, revenue is foregone (opportunity cost) from selling her as an open replacement (Table 1: year two), and annual costs are incurred from having to “house” her for another year. Number of Years for a Return to Be Made from an Open HeiferThere is value in an open cowThis goes for keeping any open cow, not just heifers. Culling an open heifer or cow could potentially mitigate or ease the loss of not selling a calf from her.