Story in Brief
The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, UGA Extension and the Georgia Cattlemen's Association provide an avenue for Georgia beef producers to develop beef herd replacements using best management practices through the Heifer Evaluation and Reproductive Development (HERD) program. This collaborative effort is an industry outreach and educational tool that further enhances the efficiency and quality of the Georgia beef industry. During the 2015-2016 HERD program, 68 Georgia beef producers consigned 345 heifers. These replacement females were evaluated and developed per a scientifically based protocol over a 6-month period at either the Calhoun or Tifton locations. There were a total of 202 head marketed at auction through the respective HERD sales. The combined offering appraised for $422,600. The vast majority of the revenue and the newly developed heifers remained in Georgia. Generations of offspring from these females will continue to enhance the industry in Georgia and the farms of individual beef producers.