NILE Merit Heifer Program Awards Two Sheridan County Ranchers

Two Sheridan County High School Ranchers will soon start a herd of their own, and get more first hand experience in the cattle industry.

Jhett West, who is a sophomore at Sheridan High School and Cooper Justus, who is a freshman at Tongue River High School, will soon each receive a donated heifer from the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) merit heifer program.

A heifer is a young female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf.

West says he’s already selected his heifer and his experience as being a livestock judge has shown him what to look for, especially the heifer’s expected progeny difference.

“When you read your EPD’s you always got to keep in mind what you want to see in a cow, especially with a first calf heifer, you want more of a low birth weight, kind of a female in goal that you’re breeding her to with a high calvanese that’s still really growthy.”

Justus says if you know what you’re doing, raising a heifer can be a good experience, and it goes beyond feeding it and maintaining records.

“It’s just all commercial or it’s not just all showing, you can do kind of both. I’ve got a heifer from my dad that I purchased from my dad 3 years ago, and I’m going to use her to raise up some calves and show.”

The NILE Stock Show and Rodeo is going on this weekend and all next week in Billings, Montana.