Course
Selection of Profitable Commercial Beef Heifers
Self-paced
1 credit
Instructor: Craig Payne
Full course description
Course Overview:
This course focuses on selection of replacement heifers in commercial cow-calf operations, with emphasis on identifying females that offer long-term profit potential. It examines how conception timing affects longevity, calving distribution, and lifetime productivity, and outlines practical screening tools including estrus synchronization, pre-breeding evaluation, pelvic measurement, and reproductive tract scoring. Application of these tools to support early conception, reduce calving difficulty risk, and improve retention of productive females is emphasized.
This presentation was recorded on July 1, 2021 as part of a webinar series offered by the University of Missouri’s National Center for Applied Reproduction and Genomics (NCARG) in partnership with the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. The presentation is delivered by Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., University of Missouri.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain how conception timing affects heifer longevity, calving distribution, and lifetime productivity.
- Identify key screening points for replacement heifers.
- Use pelvic measurement and reproductive tract scoring as screening tools.
- Evaluate the role of estrus synchronization.
- Prioritize selection decisions that improve profitability.
Topics:
Selection of profitable beef heifers
Course Facilitator:
Craig A. Payne, DVM, MS
Materials:
This course contains:
- A recorded webinar and full transcript covering the topic
- A five-question quiz required for CE credit
- An optional course evaluation survey
Length:
50 minutes
Department:
Veterinary Extension and Continuing Education
Credit:
This course is approved for 1 hour of veterinary continuing education (CE) credit by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.
Audience:
Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Students
Accommodations
University of Missouri Extension complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need accommodations in connection with participation in an educational program or you need materials in an alternate format, please notify your instructor as soon as possible so that necessary arrangements can be made. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request. All requests must be made a minimum of 14 days before course start date. MU Extension will attempt to implement late requests but cannot guarantee they will be met.
Cancellations and Refund Requests
Access MU Extension’s Course Cancellation and Refund Policy for details.