It is important to meet the nutrient requirements of the first-calver during late gestation and after calving. The most difficult time to get young beef females pregnant is during the second breeding season. Body condition at calving has a major impact on how quickly a cow will begin to cycle after calving. Not meeting the young female's nutrient requirements before calving likely means they will calve at a lower body condition and take longer to resume cycles after calving. Some producers think that calving heifers at a thin body condition decreases calf birth weight and therefore calving difficulty. Data suggest that this practice has little impact on calf birth weight and actually increases calving difficulty and, as important, delays return to estrous cycles after calving. There are data that say that feeding extra energy before calving will slightly increase calf birth weigh but had little impact on calving difficulty. There are very few forages or forage combinations that will meet the heifer's energy needs after calving, and there is a need for a small amount of grain or silage. Starting the diet three weeks before calving will have very little impact on calf birth weight. Also starting the diet before calving means that they are already acclimated to the diet. With good-quality forage, you will not need much corn, maybe 3 lb/hd/da. Make sure all females have the opportunity to get their fair share.

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