Around
Our State
Wesley Davis, a West
Virginia University student
from Point Pleasant, W.Va.,
has begun
a one-year
term as
eastern
region
vice
president
of the
National
Wesley Davis
FFA
(Future Farmers of
America) organization.
He is the first WVU
student to hold a National
FFA office in 50 years.
“The FFA expects we’ll
travel about 300 days out
of the next year,”
Davis said.
Destinations
include
Wisconsin
for training
and Japan to
check in with an emerging
Future Farmers of Japan
group.
Pursuing a dual major
in agribusiness management
and agricultural and
extension education,
Davis expects his
time in office to be
similar to earning
the equivalent
of a third
degree.
ii / Winter 2014
W. Va. Preimum+ Heifer Program improves
herd quality
B
eef producers know the key to a
successful and profitable cow/calf
operation is having efficient, functional,
quality cows. Producing quality cows starts
with selecting and successfully developing
quality replacement heifers. However, the
development and breeding of replacement
heifers can be a fairly expensive and
management-intensive process.
Proper management of heifer calves from
weaning through breeding, and even up
to first calving, has a significant and lasting
impact on the long-term productivity and
profitability of the herd. The difficulty is
that smaller herds producers often find it
costly to manage and develop heifers that
maximize their potential. In fact, most
small herd producers would fair better
financially by selling their own calves and
purchasing reputable replacement heifers.
Even then, finding a source of replacement
females that offers improved genetics and
adaptability is challenging.
Realizing that many beef producers in
West Virginia are faced with this dilemma,
the WVU Extension Service launched the
West Virginia Premium+ Heifer Program
(WVPPHP), designed to provide a source
of top-quality replacement heifers, while
enhancing the profit potential for small
producers. The WVPPHP provides
independent verification of health
management, breeding, and sire
selection practices, and simplifies
marketing opportunities for West
Virginia producers. The WVPPHP also
allows progressive cattlemen with extra
replacement-quality heifers to add value
to them by retaining, breeding, and
marketing them as bred heifers.
The W. Va. Premium+ Heifer Program
works! In 2013, 40 heifers from six
producers qualified for Premium+
status and brought $1,630 per head.
The WVPPHP is open to both spring
and fall calving heifers.
Producing quality cows starts with
successfully selecting and developing
quality replacement heifers.
To enroll in WVPPHP producers
must:
• Be a member of the West Virginia
Cattlemen’s Association
• Be Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
certified
• Have a registered premise ID
• Enroll a minimum of five heifers
(West Virginia marketing groups and
associations may participate as a group by
collectively enrolling at least five heifers.)
To achieve West Virginia
Premium+ status, heifers must:
• Meet or exceed minimum
qualifications for weight, body
condition, muscle, frame, health,
and vaccination requirements
• Be verified pregnant
• Be free of structural or physical
defects
If interested in WVPPHP:
Contact your local WVU Extension
Service office for program
requirements and enrollment forms.
Note: Enrollment for 2015 spring
calving heifers will be accepted
until May 1, 2014.
By Kevin Shaffer, Livestock Production
Specialist, WVU Extension Service
Insert Provided by WVU Extension Service and Davis College of Ag., Natural Resources, and Design