Cattle producers are looking for opportunities to rebuild beef cattle herds following years of liquidation. Careful consideration of replacement heifers to yield top-quality calves is a crucial factor, say experts.

About 200 cattle producers attended the recent 43rd South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham, hearing from a variety of experts. “This year we focused on heifers and took the opportunity to talk about the basics of genetics, selection, function, design, (and) utility,” said Kara Matheney, AgriLife Extension agent for Washington County. “We are at a unique time right now, where we are making some serious decisions about the quality of stock we are purchasing to restock or what we are raising as replacements.”

The event was hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service with support of beef and forage committees from Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Grimes, Harris, Lee, Waller and Washington counties. For more on the conference, click here.