The Douglas County Livestock Association (DCLA) is interested in promoting educational and financial opportunities that are relative to the beef industry to Douglas County students. In doing so, the youth who participate in the DCLA Beef Heifer Replacement Program (DCLAHRP) will gain knowledge and experience in selection, feeding, breeding, exhibiting and marketing livestock. It is the hopes of the DCLA that the student will build his/her breeding herd in order to receive financial and educational benefits.
Who is eligible to receive a heifer?
1.) Students must be between 5th and 11th grade at time of application and can be 4-H or FFA members.
2.) Student must have exhibited a livestock project at the Douglas County Fair prior to time of application.
3.) A minimum of one heifer each year will be awarded. Additional heifers may be given to students depending upon applications and availability of heifers.
4.) Students must be Douglas County residents and who have not received a heifer from the program before. Students may apply as many years as they wish.
5.) Students will be interviewed based upon selection from the applications.
Requirements of the Student:
The student must:
1.) Complete an application and submit to the extension office by: September 15th of the current year.
2.) Have adequate facilities or a suitable location to keep the heifer and provide the feed for the animal.
3.) Pick up heifer from the donating producer.
4.) Maintain and complete written records and submit to the OSU Extension Office prior to exhibition at fair.
5.) Attend the DCLA Annual Banquet for awarding of heifer.
6.) Attend DCLA Annual Banquet for the two years after the heifer is received and present a short update on the breeding project. Following the last presentation at the banquet the heifer becomes the sole ownership of the student. No further reports are necessary.
7.) Exhibit the heifer as a yearling at the county fair and again as a cow-calf pair the following year.
8.) Have the female bred at the appropriate time. (Students are encouraged to maintain a spring or a fall calving project.)
9.) Attend a minimum of two approved beef educational programs each year, and four total for the duration of the program.
10.) Sign approved contract created by the DCLA.
Heifer Eligibility:
Purebred and crossbred heifers are eligible. Heifer must be structurally sound, current on vaccinations, including brucellosis, and polled or dehorned to ensure safety. The heifer must be of a beef breed and show no signs of dairy or rodeo breed influence. Females who were born twins to a bull are ineligible for the project. The heifer must have been born prior to May 1st of the current year of application. Heifers will be approved by a committee formed from the Douglas County Livetock Association.
Requirements of the Donating Producer:
1. Provide a bill of sale to student and transfer registration papers if applicable.
2. Provide heifer information such as: date of birth, dam ID, sire ID, breed, weaning weight and date and vaccination records.
3. Have heifer current on vaccinations including Brucellosis.
4. Dehorn heifer if necessary.
Failure to Meet Requirements:
If a student neglects or fails to maintain their part of the contract, the situation will be reviewed by the DCLA Heifer Replacement Program committee and a recommendation approved by the DCLA board. At such time, a decision will be made and the heifer may be returned to the original donor of the female. For instance, student fails to attempt to breed heifer, student does not show heifer one year at the fair or student does not present at DCLA meeting or submit completed records for review.
Calendar of Events:
September 15- applications must be submitted to County Extension Office
September- DCLAHRP will review applications and conduct interviews of applying students
October/November- Heifer(s) will be awarded to student(s) at the Annual Fall Banquet
October/November- Students coordinate with donor to pick up heifer
April/May/June- Coordinate artificial insemination and breeding of heifer unless a fall heifer.
August 1- submit records to DCLA via the County Extension Office
August - student exhibits bred heifer at the Douglas County Fair
October/November- attend DCLA Annual Banquet and present update on bred heifer
April/May- Coordinate artificial insemination and breeding of 2 year old female
July- submit records to DCLA
August (2nd year)- student exhibits cow-calf pair at the Douglas County Fair
October/November(2nd year)- attend DCLA Annual Banquet and present update on cow/calf pair
Project Requirements and Management:
The member must have adequate facilities and feed for the project. The student is responsible for getting the heifer bred to calve at an appropriate time in the spring or falland must have facilities for calving. Heifers should be fed for continuous growth, gaining approximately 1-2 pounds per day.
Attendance at the DCLA Annual Banquet and the completion of record books are mandatory. Each exhibitor must maintain written records in order to document the management of their heifer project. The student is responsible for preparing the heifer, and eventually, her calf for exhibition at the DouglasCountyfair. Attendance at the Douglas County Fair is required.
The student is also required to attend or participate in a total of four (two each year) beef related functions or activities. The DCLA will be responsible for approving functions and providing students notice of such approved venues.
Once the student receives the heifer, they are solely responsible for the care and management of the female. All calves the female produces will belong to the student. If the female is sold for any reason, after all requirements have been met, the revenue generated belongs to the student.
If the heifer dies, is unable to be bred, or is unfit for show at the Douglas County Fair, the student is asked to contact the DCLA immediately. The DCLA has the ability to deal with each situation on a per case basis, and the executive committee will make all decisions. If a student neglects to maintain their part of the contract, the heifer may be taken back and returned to the donating producer. The student will also be ineligible to apply for a heifer in the future.
Last Updated 3-15-11