What is a heifers gestation period?

Answer 1

On average, the gestation period or length-of-pregnancy of a cow is 285 days long. This is similar to the pregnancy period of a woman, which is closer to around 9 months or ~260 days.

However, actual gestation period of a cow can range from 270 days to 295 days, depending primarily on breed[s], age, body condition and nutritional health. Gestation period is also controlled by genetics, but not rate of maturity. The rate of maturity is more to do with the age a bovine reaches when it starts to put fat down, not muscle, and has very little to nothing to do with reproductive characteristics including length of gestation.

Here are some rules of thumb to remember when trying to figure out how long your cows or heifers will be pregnant for:

• Heifers that are pregnant for the first time will most likely have a little longer gestation period than older, mature cows. This is typically because heifers are still growing themselves and have to put energy into growing a calf AND their own bodies, including the formation and maturation of their udder.
• Cows with poorer fertility (or have a tougher time getting bred again after giving birth) may have a longer gestation period than those with good fertility (or those that have settled during the first part of the breeding season after a 45 to 60 day rest period).
• Usually small cows have a shorter gestation period than big cows, but not always. For instance, Texas Longhorns have a longer gestation period than South Devons, but TL's are smaller in size and lighter in weight than SD's. However, this might be applicable if comparing Jerseys with Charolais or moderate-framed Angus with Chianina.
• Thin cows may have a shorter gestation than normal-condition cows, and fat cows may have a longer gestation than normal-conditioned cows.
• Females that have more masculine characteristics may have a longer gestation than those females that are more feminine in conformation.

Please see the related questions below for various breeds and their consequential length of gestation.

Answer 2

On average, the gestation period or length-of-pregnancy of a cow is 285 days long. This is similar to the pregnancy period of a woman, which is closer to around 9 months or ~260 days.

However, actual gestation period of a cow can range from 270 days to 295 days, depending primarily on breed[s], age, body condition and nutritional health. Length of gestation is primarily an inherited trait, but has nothing to do with the rate of maturity of a certain breed or an individual animal.

See related questions below for additional information. A little over 9 months.

I usually say around 280 days, but it can vary from 270-290. Recently it seems that 283 seems to be the magic number that the cattle gestation charts are written by.
Gestation is 285 days long. From the onset of the first stages of labour, and depending on whether the "cow" is a heifer about to have her first calf, or an experienced cow, labour should take no more than 12 to 24 hours. Any longer and you will need to either go in and assist the calving cow or, if you don't know how to calve out a cow, call the vet.

Answer 3

The normal estrous period in cows or heifers lasts for 17 to 24 days, depending on the breed and fertility of each individual female. For cows that have just had a calf, estrous periods are typically shorter or more irregular than when they are in their normal cycling periods.

Answer 4

Holsteins typically have a long gestation period, which can last from 283 to 290 days.

Answer 5

Since Holsteins are generally early to intermediate-maturing animals, the gestation period would range from 280 to 285 days.

Answer 6

The gestation period of a Holstein cow averages around 283 to 286 days.

Answer 7

The gestation period of a Guernsey cow can be expected to be around 275 to 285 days long.