Our new breeding bulls are now in with the first-calf heifers at Simply Grazin’ Farm 4 in Fort Ann, NY. 

A first-calf heifer may breed for the first time at about 15 months and have the first calf when she is two years old. Usually it’s best to wait until they are at least 15 months of age before breeding. Even though the early maturing breeds do reach puberty by the time they are around 7 to 9 months of age, it is best to wait until they are around 13 to 15 months of age before you can breed them.

Often thought of as the foundation of the herd, a first-calf heifer’s first breeding can be pivotal to her overall success and longevity.

First calf heifers can also be difficult to manage as they require special strategies to help them wean a bigger calf, breed back sooner and improve their chances of staying in the herd longer. While calving can often be a major stressor on your heifers, more subtle stress may take its toll on them. Two-year-olds calve at approximately 85% of their mature weight. A first-calf heifer’s entire first lactation requires her to continue growing, go through the stress of calving, produce milk and raise a calf all while being at the bottom of the pecking order in the herd.

This 2021 calving season at our NY farms produced 160 calves. We now have a larger herd and hope the 2022 calving season will bring us 200+ calves.