Local cattle producers interested in putting heifers in the Heifer Evaluation Reproductive Program (H.E.R.D.) should note that Nov. 7 is the entry deadline.

The H.E.R.D. program has become an annual event that is co-sponsored by the University of Georgia Extension Service and the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.

Through this program, area cattle producers can consign heifers to the program that were born between Dec. 1, 2011 and Feb. 29, 2012. The program lasts for six months. Consigned heifers are delivered to the UGA Experiment Station in Floyd County in December, and at the end of the program, they are either taken home or sold through the H.E.R.D. sale scheduled for May 29. During that time, the heifers are evaluated for frame size, disposition, muscle score, reproductive maturity score and structure. Plus, they are dewormed and vaccinated following a very sound vaccination schedule. Along with that, they are also bred to an easy-calving bull. As mentioned earlier, the producers have the option of bringing their heifers back home to build their own herd or selling them in the H.E.R.D. program sale at the conclusion of the program. Last year, the Calhoun H.E.R.D. sale average was $1,753.

This is an excellent opportunity for local producers to get heifers evaluated and developed for their own herd or to add some value to their heifers before they are sold.

For more details about this program or an application form, contact the Walker County Extension Service at 706-638-2548.

Norman Edwards is coordinator of Walker County Extension Service.