The East Kentucky Heifer Development Project, a program which began more than 19 years ago, allowed East Kentucky cattle producers to deliver heifers to D&D Ranch in Hazard, KY where the heifers were evaluated and would eventually undergo a strict, seven-month development program to return to their respective farm or be sold as quality, replacement bred heifers in a consignment sale. As a result of that program, farmers realized the added-value of developing their heifers and saw improvements in the overall genetic base of their herds.

Due to complications with funding and farm management at D&D Ranch, 2017 was the final year for the project. Even though many farmers had been utilizing the program, they were not actively involved in the development aspects at the ranch, so they lacked the proper education to continue to ensure the same quality heifers on the farm as they were bringing home from the project. The agents in Morgan, Magoffin, Menifee, Elliott, and Wolfe counties recognized the negative impact the loss of the program would have on their cattlemen and immediately began planning the “Developing Replacement Heifers” series.

The Morgan County Extension Education Farm housed six heifers which were used for the following sessions of the series: Economics, Facilities, and Management, Evaluation and Reproductive Health, Health Programs, Ultrasounding, Estrus Synchronization, and Artificial Insemination. More than 60 producers from five counties attended at least one of the sessions with hopes of implementing a sound heifer development regimen on his/her farm.

A follow-up survey this past spring determined the following impacts:

1. 90% of producers developed a better understanding of the economics related to sound working facilities and management practices;

2. 75% had made improvements or were considering making improvements to their facilities and management as a result of the program;

3. 100% understand the benefits of hay testing, reading feed tags, and offering loose, free-choice minerals as a result of the program;

4. 65% have a better understanding of body condition scoring, reproductive tract scoring, pelvic measurements, and utilizing EPDs to increase the genetic merit of their herd;

5. 70% learned the significance of gauging the reproductive efficiency of their herd based on ultra-sounding and eliminating non-breeders; and

6. 60% are utilizing, or considering utilizing, what they learned about estrus synchronization protocols to tighten the calving season for their herd.