With the U.S. cowherd at historic lows, the University of Nebraska—Lincoln is focusing on how to grow the cowherd while advancing the quality of female genetics that are the foundation of the U.S. beef industry.
The Great Plains Heifer Development Center at UNL’s Haskell Ag Lab near Concord was launched in the winter of 2023 as part of that effort and is wrapping up its first year. Anyone interested is welcome to join a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Ag Lab to review what researchers and enrolled producers learned and to discuss the program and related topics.
The heifer development program gives producers game-changing genomic, performance, and reproductive data about their replacement females years ahead of traditional on-the-ranch data tracking. It is a platform for testing cutting-edge technologies while aligning with Beef Improvement Federation genetic goals to advance industry standards.
Beyond providing data and precision heifer development service, the Great Plains Heifer Development Program prioritizes learning and education. Producers are encouraged to be part of the process, sharing their own knowledge and learning what role data can play in their businesses.
“The ultimate goal of this program is to advance the beef industry,” said Connor Biehler, Nebraska beef Extension educator who coordinates the program. “That means we work with producers to see what questions they have or obstacles they are facing. Then we apply our resources to provide data that helps them make the decisions that will reach their goals. Meetings like this are important for us to share what we learned and to find out what we did that was valuable and how we can adjust to better serve our clientele. This is a partnership and we value the trust producers put in us to support their businesses and industry.”
The Heifer Development Center had a great impact in its first year and Biehler and others at UNL are excited to continue working with producers to focus on female genetic improvement in the U.S. cowherd.
“As we delve into this initiative, it’s not just about providing a service; it’s about creating a valuable learning community,” said Rick Rasby, a professor with Nebraska’s Animal Science Department. “We want producers to come together, share insights, and collectively elevate the efficiency and genetic prowess of their herds. This isn’t just about increasing numbers; it’s about improving the quality of the cowherd. It’s about creating resilient, flexible, and knowledgeable producers who are well-informed about the status of their herds.”
Great Plains Heifer Development Center First Year Wrap-up Meeting Agenda
10-10:15 a.m. Welcome
10:15-11 a.m. Dr. Jarret Proctor, Cargill Animal Nutrition - Nutritional Development of Beef Heifers
11 a.m. - Noon Dr. Kent Anderson, Zoetis - Genetics and INHERIT Select
Noon-12:45 Lunch
12:45-1:30 p.m. Great Plains Heifer Development Center Tour
1:30-1:50 p.m. ABS
1:50-2:10 p.m. Cattler Software
2:10-3:00 p.m. Project Recap
The enrollment period for 2025 opens Tuesday, Oct. 1. More information and enrollment criteria are available online at https://go.unl.edu/2025heiferdev. Register for the meeting or request more information by contacting Biehler at 402-624-8030 or cbiehler2@unl.edu. Please RSVP by Friday, Sept. 27.