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Cow-Calf Final Exam Questions And
Answers |Latest 2025 | Guaranteed Pass
What are the objectives in selecting replacement heifers? - Answer✔In heifer selection, you
want to identify heifers that will conceive early in the breeding season (meaning they should
reach puberty earlier), calve easily, give a flow of milk consistent with the environment, wean
an acceptable calf, and make positive contribution to the calves postweaning growth and
carcass traits.
We can tell by looking at a heifer if she will be fertile - T/F - Answer✔False
How do I calculate adjusted 205 day weight? - Answer✔(WW-BW/Age) x (205d+BW+AoD Adj.)
Should I use adjusted 205 day weight to select replacement heifers? Why? - Answer✔No, favors
younger heifers that reach puberty later
What is the simple way to select my heifers if I don't have a set of scales? - Answer✔Choose the
oldest, visibly larger heifers
In the lab exercise on selecting replacement heifers, why did we cull the Angus and Brahman
heifers out first? - Answer✔
What two factors are most important in selecting heifers? - Answer✔Age and weight
1|Page
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Heifers should reach puberty 1-3 months before being bred - T/F - Answer✔True. The first
pubertal estrus is less fertile, so having at least one cycle before the breeding season is ideal
(although 2 cycles is ideal).
It is not really important when a heifer conceives in the breeding season as long as she does -
T/F - Answer✔False, heifers that become pregnant early in the breeding season have a higher
lifetime production potential
What are major factors affecting puberty? (list the top 4) - Answer✔Breed, age, weight, and
BCS are the top 4 factors affecting puberty in beef heifers.
How does breed impact puberty? - Answer✔In general, dairy breeds are the youngest at
puberty, bos indicus are the oldest at puberty, heavy milking beef breeds are younger at
puberty. There are large variations within and between breeds.
Can we modify age at puberty by crossbreeding? - Answer✔Yes, crossbred cows usually reach
puberty earlier than their straightbred counterparts due to hybrid vigor effects. The way to do
this is crossbreeding with another breed that has a similar or younger age at puberty.
Timing of gain in heifers is not as critical as making sure that heifers reach their target weight -
T/F - Answer✔True. There is currently no statistical difference in the timing of gain in heifers,
meaning they could gain consistently, gain slowly and then rapidly, or rapidly and then slowly,
and still reach the correct weight at puberty (all timing produces the same final weight, age at
first estrus, and pregnancy rate)
What is the target weight for heifers at breeding? Is this the average weight? - Answer✔The
target weight for heifers at breeding should be 65% of their mature weight.
Why should heifers be sorted into management groups (if you have a large number of heifers)?
- Answer✔There are social effects between heavier and lighter heifers, such as
dominance/competition for food. Heifers should be sorted into heavy and light groups if you
have a large number of heifers to reduce competition, balance their ADG, increase weight, and
2|Page
, ©THEBRIGHT 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:00 PM A+
overall decrease age at puberty and increase pregnancy rate. (Pregnancy rates will increase by
about 20% in lighter heifers that are sorted into a different management group)
Calculate the target weight for a set of heifers. - Answer✔Example: 1100 lb mature wt x 65% =
715 lbs at the start of breeding. All heifers in the set should weigh at least the 715 lbs
Should I implant my heifers? Why? Should you implant all heifers or replacement heifers?
When should you implant them? - Answer✔If replacement heifers are identified at an early age,
don't implant
If replacements are not identified at an early age, implant all between 2 months and weaning
-Heifers not kept as replacements will be heavier
Exposing prepubertal heifers to a bull improves conception rates - T/F - Answer✔False. The
results of experiments are inconclusive and show no significant improvement in pregnancy
rates. It is also difficult to coordinate in an intensive management scheme.
Should I use an ionophore in replacement heifer supplements? Why? - Answer✔Yes, it can help
them reach puberty earlier and increase conception rates
Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of calving heifers first at two years of
age. - Answer✔Advantages: shorter interval to return investment, increased lifetime
production per cow, increased output per year on a herd or cow basis, fewer groups to manage
Disadvantages: increased cost associated with early breeding (with more feed needed),
increased cost associated with calving difficulty, lower re-breeding rates for 2 year olds (often
due to shedding first pair of teeth and body adjusting to metabolic demands of lactation),
difficult to do with high Bos indicus percentages
What is a potential problem with calving replacement heifers 30 days prior to the mature cow
herd? - Answer✔-Less time to get them to their target weight, could increase costs if you have
to increase feed to push them to reach the target
-Also would push the biological window to breed younger (12 to 14 months versus 12 to 15
months)
3|Page
Cow-Calf Final Exam Questions And
Answers |Latest 2025 | Guaranteed Pass
What are the objectives in selecting replacement heifers? - Answer✔In heifer selection, you
want to identify heifers that will conceive early in the breeding season (meaning they should
reach puberty earlier), calve easily, give a flow of milk consistent with the environment, wean
an acceptable calf, and make positive contribution to the calves postweaning growth and
carcass traits.
We can tell by looking at a heifer if she will be fertile - T/F - Answer✔False
How do I calculate adjusted 205 day weight? - Answer✔(WW-BW/Age) x (205d+BW+AoD Adj.)
Should I use adjusted 205 day weight to select replacement heifers? Why? - Answer✔No, favors
younger heifers that reach puberty later
What is the simple way to select my heifers if I don't have a set of scales? - Answer✔Choose the
oldest, visibly larger heifers
In the lab exercise on selecting replacement heifers, why did we cull the Angus and Brahman
heifers out first? - Answer✔
What two factors are most important in selecting heifers? - Answer✔Age and weight
1|Page
, ©THEBRIGHT 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:00 PM A+
Heifers should reach puberty 1-3 months before being bred - T/F - Answer✔True. The first
pubertal estrus is less fertile, so having at least one cycle before the breeding season is ideal
(although 2 cycles is ideal).
It is not really important when a heifer conceives in the breeding season as long as she does -
T/F - Answer✔False, heifers that become pregnant early in the breeding season have a higher
lifetime production potential
What are major factors affecting puberty? (list the top 4) - Answer✔Breed, age, weight, and
BCS are the top 4 factors affecting puberty in beef heifers.
How does breed impact puberty? - Answer✔In general, dairy breeds are the youngest at
puberty, bos indicus are the oldest at puberty, heavy milking beef breeds are younger at
puberty. There are large variations within and between breeds.
Can we modify age at puberty by crossbreeding? - Answer✔Yes, crossbred cows usually reach
puberty earlier than their straightbred counterparts due to hybrid vigor effects. The way to do
this is crossbreeding with another breed that has a similar or younger age at puberty.
Timing of gain in heifers is not as critical as making sure that heifers reach their target weight -
T/F - Answer✔True. There is currently no statistical difference in the timing of gain in heifers,
meaning they could gain consistently, gain slowly and then rapidly, or rapidly and then slowly,
and still reach the correct weight at puberty (all timing produces the same final weight, age at
first estrus, and pregnancy rate)
What is the target weight for heifers at breeding? Is this the average weight? - Answer✔The
target weight for heifers at breeding should be 65% of their mature weight.
Why should heifers be sorted into management groups (if you have a large number of heifers)?
- Answer✔There are social effects between heavier and lighter heifers, such as
dominance/competition for food. Heifers should be sorted into heavy and light groups if you
have a large number of heifers to reduce competition, balance their ADG, increase weight, and
2|Page
, ©THEBRIGHT 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:00 PM A+
overall decrease age at puberty and increase pregnancy rate. (Pregnancy rates will increase by
about 20% in lighter heifers that are sorted into a different management group)
Calculate the target weight for a set of heifers. - Answer✔Example: 1100 lb mature wt x 65% =
715 lbs at the start of breeding. All heifers in the set should weigh at least the 715 lbs
Should I implant my heifers? Why? Should you implant all heifers or replacement heifers?
When should you implant them? - Answer✔If replacement heifers are identified at an early age,
don't implant
If replacements are not identified at an early age, implant all between 2 months and weaning
-Heifers not kept as replacements will be heavier
Exposing prepubertal heifers to a bull improves conception rates - T/F - Answer✔False. The
results of experiments are inconclusive and show no significant improvement in pregnancy
rates. It is also difficult to coordinate in an intensive management scheme.
Should I use an ionophore in replacement heifer supplements? Why? - Answer✔Yes, it can help
them reach puberty earlier and increase conception rates
Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of calving heifers first at two years of
age. - Answer✔Advantages: shorter interval to return investment, increased lifetime
production per cow, increased output per year on a herd or cow basis, fewer groups to manage
Disadvantages: increased cost associated with early breeding (with more feed needed),
increased cost associated with calving difficulty, lower re-breeding rates for 2 year olds (often
due to shedding first pair of teeth and body adjusting to metabolic demands of lactation),
difficult to do with high Bos indicus percentages
What is a potential problem with calving replacement heifers 30 days prior to the mature cow
herd? - Answer✔-Less time to get them to their target weight, could increase costs if you have
to increase feed to push them to reach the target
-Also would push the biological window to breed younger (12 to 14 months versus 12 to 15
months)
3|Page
