When to separate hiefer/bull to prevent early breeding?

[MasAhora]

Our 4 hiefers are around 7ish months old, the young bull with them is around 12 months old.

I understand it is best for the hiefers if they are 12-14 months old before they get pregnant. When should I separate them from the young bull?

 

[Bossroo]

YESTERDAY !!!

 

[MasAhora]

The girls are just weaned/separated from mama 3 days ago ... so I am not clear why they be ready.

 

[farmerjan]

They should be separated from a bull as soon as they are weaned. Some breeds, like jerseys can come into heat at 6 months. They can start to cycle at very young ages. No, they should not be bred that young of course. I had a heifer at about 8-9 months , weaned her with a bunch of others, and then she starts to get fatter and bag up and by the time I realized she could be pregnant, compliments of the neighbors bull since we only leave ours in for 90 days to control our calving window; it was too late to abort her. She calved at just under 18 months. Luckily it was small, she did fine but she will always be a bit small because her growth was stunted. I waited to rebreed her after I weaned that first calf so she could grow a bit more, and she has done fine but will always be smaller. Her calves grow normally.

Get the bull out, and don't breed them until they are 14-16 months so they calve at about 2 years at the earliest. Their bodies need to grow first before they are also feeding a developing calf inside. Decide when you want the calves, early spring or whatever then back up about 9-10 months and put the bull in with them or breed them A.I.
Don't think you get alot of winter there, but you also don't want a calf when it is miserably hot there either. Fly borne diseases and heat stress are as bad or worse than freezing temps.

 

[MasAhora]

Thanks farmerjan, your explanation makes it clearer for me. We're separating them today and moving them a paddock that is probably going to be better for them.... providing our neighbours bull sticks with his own herd!!

 

[jhm47]

To be sure, I'd give her a nice dose of Lutalyse. Get some from your vet.