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In an effort to insure more replacement heifers are bred to calve early in their first calving season, ranchers should consider using a supplement containing an ionophore in the growing diet of the heifers. "Ionophore" is the generalized name for the feed additives monensin (Rumensin) and lasalocid (Bovatec). Both are presently approved for use with growing programs for replacement heifers. Research conducted in Texas and Wyoming indicated that growing heifers fed 200 mg monensin per head per day reached puberty at an earlier age than did similar heifers fed similar diets containing no monensin. Similar data is available for lasalocid. Most stocker cattle research has
indicated that the addition of 100-200 mg of an ionophore will increase
average daily gain by .1 to .2 pound per day. Over a 150 day growing period
of a replacement heifer, this means an additional 15-30 pounds in average
weight improvement of the heifers by breeding time.
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