What’s the right strategy for heifer development in your cowherd? It’s a question almost every producer asks at some point. Developing a replacement heifer isn’t just another task on the ranch—it’s one of the biggest and most expensive management decisions you’ll make. And the way you handle it can shape your herd’s profitability for years to come.
The first thing to weigh is cost. Should you raise your own replacements or buy them? Both options come with trade-offs, and the correct answer depends on your specific production environment and resources. What works for one ranch may not pencil out for another. That’s why it’s essential to look closely at your forage base, feed costs, and facilities before committing. For those unfamiliar, a forage-based system is a method of heifer development that primarily relies on grazing and forage as the primary source of nutrition, thereby reducing the need for expensive feed and lowering overall development costs.
It’s also smart to evaluate your current herd. What’s the age structure of your cows? Which ones are still productive, and which are nearing cull age? Thinking ahead helps you determine the exact number of heifers you’ll need. It gives you a clearer picture of your long-term replacement strategy.
At the end of the day, raising heifers is about more than just filling a slot. You’re investing in your herd’s future—one that can either strengthen your bottom line or become a drain on resources if done wrong. That’s why it pays to go into heifer development with a plan. It’s also important to be aware of common pitfalls in heifer development, such as overfeeding or underfeeding, and how to avoid them. We’ll cover these in detail in the sections that follow.
In the sections that follow, we’ll explore proven strategies, ranging from rethinking traditional weight targets to lowering development costs with forage-based systems. We’ll also cover how to choose the right heifers to keep and why treating the process like a ‘hiring decision‘ can set your herd up for long-term success. We’ll do this by sharing real-life examples and case studies of producers who have successfully implemented these strategies and seen significant improvements in their heifer development programs.
If you’ve been around cattle long enough, you already know the truth—horn flies don’t pay attention to the calendar. Just because September rolls in doesn’t mean the pressure lets up. In fact, for many ranchers, fall can bring some of the heaviest horn fly infestations of the entire year. And if you’re not watching closely, your herd could start losing body condition at a time when you want them holding steady or even gaining before winter.
Every rancher knows one hard truth—
If there’s one thing every rancher in West Texas can agree on, it’s this: winter feeding has a way of sneaking up fast. One minute you’re swatting flies and watching calves kick up their heels in the late-summer heat, and the next you’re staring down the first cold fronts, wondering if you’ve got enough hay stacked to make it through. When the weather flips, there’s no time to play catch-up—your cattle depend on you having a plan in place.
Fall is more than just cooler mornings and shorter days—it’s the season to give your cows the best possible start heading into winter. Good fall and winter cattle management isn’t just about comfort; it’s about keeping your herd healthy, productive, and your feed costs in check.
At first glance, late summer pastures can look like everything’s fine—plenty of tall, green grass waving in the breeze. But here’s the thing: 
Weaning, a pivotal and potentially stressful time in a calf’s life, is a crucial stage for cattle producers. It’s the period when the culmination of breeding, nutrition, and herd management efforts is reflected in a healthy, robust calf crop. This turning point highlights the producer’s crucial role in ensuring a seamless transition. However, it’s also a time when vigilance is paramount, as stress and illness can swiftly disrupt the process.
Let’s face it—every cow/calf producer wants calves to hit weaning weight with as much gain and as little extra cost as possible. One tool that’s catching more attention lately is 
It’s July in West Texas—and if you’ve been outside for more than five minutes, you already know what that means. The sun’s blazing, the pastures are crisping up, and the cows are doing everything they can to find a patch of shade and stay put. Grazing? Not unless it’s early morning or there’s a breeze blowing. It’s just flat-out hot.
