Picking Replacement Heifers: It's Not Just "Who's the Biggest"

When it comes time to keep replacement heifers, a lot of folks default to one question: Who’s the biggest?

But the truth is, the answer is a little trickier than that.

Size matters—but context matters more.

Take birth date, for example. A January-born calf that weighs 600 pounds and a March-born calf that weighs 600 pounds are not the same animal. That March calf gained the same weight in two fewer months. That tells you something about efficiency, growth rate, and how she converts grass and groceries.

Then look at the dam.

Is she the cow that toes the line every year—bad attitude, hard keeper, always one strike away from the truck? Or is she that old faithful 10-year-old that breeds back, raises a solid calf every year, and never causes a problem? Temperament, fertility, udder quality, and longevity tend to repeat themselves. A heifer is only as good as the cow that raised her.

Another thing that often gets overlooked is age of dam. A calf out of a short-term or younger cow that keeps right up with the running-age calves is one to really pay attention to. That kind of performance usually means the heifer has the genetic potential to do more with less as she matures.

Disposition Matters—More Than People Want to Admit

We put a lot of weight on disposition when keeping replacement heifers, and for good reason.

1. Rank cows cost real money.

   Dealing with bad-tempered cows only leads to injuries—kicked knees, broken ribs, wrecked horses, and medical bills. Even with bred cows bringing $3–4k, no cow is worth getting hurt over.

2. Docile cattle perform better.

   Calm cattle spend their time eating and gaining, not burning calories on stress. High-headed, boogery critters that are always looking for the “mountain lion” are rarely as efficient as quiet, settled cattle.

3. Disposition affects carcass quality.

   Stressed cattle are more likely to turn into dark cutters, which means poorer meat quality down the line. Calm cattle produce a better end product—and buyers notice. When your calves perform well for the next guy, it builds confidence in your program. The more confidence buyers have that your calves will pencil for them, the more willing they are to spend.

The Bigger Picture

There’s obviously more to selecting replacement h

eifers than just these points. We’re also paying attention to udder quality, feet and legs, how they travel out, overall build, thickness, and frame size. Those structural pieces are critical to keeping cows sound, productive, and in the herd long term.

These are just some of the highlights—but they’re big ones.

Good replacement heifers aren’t just big. They’re efficient, sound-minded, structurally correct, and built to stay.

Keeping replacements isn’t about chasing the heaviest calf on weaning day. It’s about building a cow herd that works, lasts, and makes money—for you and the people who buy from you.