The 2 year old year is a young cow's toughest time. She's nursing her first calf, still growing, and needs enough nutrition and body condition to cycle on schedule after calving; otherwise she may end up open or calving late next year. It can be a challenge to get heifers rebred without losing ground in their calving schedule. They generally need more care and management than mature cows. The 2 year old is the most valuable and expensive animal in the herd; she has not yet generated any income, yet alot of money has been invested in her. If she fails to stay in the herd, this is a significant financial loss. It pays to invest more management (to get her rebred) than to start over with another heifer. As our veterinarian says, "If a yearling heifercomes up open, it's generally her fault (genetics); if a 2 year old comes up open, it's your fault (management)."
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