REARING DAIRY HEIFERS PROFITABLY
Dr. Rachel J. E. Stewart
Heifers needed to keep herd size at 100
Cull rate %
Age at first calving 22mnth
Age at first calving 24mnth
Age at first calving 26mnth
Age at first calving 28mnth
Age at first calving 30mnth
Age at first calving 32mnth
Age at first calving 34mnth
Age at first calving 36mnth
20 40 44 48 51 55 59 62 66 22 44 48 52 56 61 65 69 73 24 48 53 57 62 66 70 75 79 26 52 57 62 67 72 76 81 86 28 56 62 67 72 77 82 87 92 30 61 66 72 77 82 88 94 99 32 65 70 76 82 88 94 100 106 34 69 75 81 87 94 100 106 112
Healthy cows produce healthy calves.
Body condition score your cows to ensure they calve at condition 3.5
Ensure a 60 day dry period
Give cows all necessary pre-calving inoculations
COLOSTRUM COMPOSITION
Item 1st Milking after calving
2nd Milking after calving
3rd Milking after calving
Milk
Total solids 23.9% 17.9% 14.1% 12.9% Protein 14% 8.4% 5.1% 3.1% Antibodies 48 mg/ml 25 mg/ml 15 mg/ml .6 mg/ml Fat 6.7% 5.4% 3.9% 3.7%
Storage of Colostrum
Room temperature for 1 day Fridge for a week Deep frozen (-20C) for more than a
year Thaw in warm water (<60C) Feed at 39C
Post Calving to Weaning
Disinfect umbilical cord Move to clean well ventilated pens/
hutches Colostrum for 5 days Feed good clean milk at 39C at 10%
to 15% of birth weightStart with 3 feedings then 2 then 1 per day
Post Calving to Weaning
Clean water from day one all day Calf meal of good quality from day 3 Good quality hay from week 4. Move hutches or clean out pens at
least every three days. Check feed intakes, can be weaned
when eating more than 2.5% of birthweight per day
Weaners to Heifers Keep in small groups after weaning with
shade and clean water. Keep on calf meal for at least one
month then slowly introduce heifer meal.
Use high protein meal to ensure good muscle and bone growth not FAT.
Ensure correct vaccination program for your farm/area
Heifer TargetsAge/Age/
stagestage
ConditionCondition scorescore
FeedFeed
3 month 3 month WeaningWeaning
2.75 -3.252.75 -3.25 18CP 12ME18CP 12ME
6 month6 month 3.25- 3.53.25- 3.5 16CP 12ME16CP 12ME
1414 months months BreedingBreeding
3.25 – 3.53.25 – 3.5 14CP 14CP 11.5ME11.5ME
21 months21 months 3.5 – 3.753.5 – 3.75 14CP 11ME14CP 11ME
22 months22 months 3.5 – 3.753.5 – 3.75 14CP 11ME14CP 11ME
Heifer Targets
Puberty at 42% of Mature Body Size 8 to 10 months of age
Conceive at 55% of Mature Body Size 14 to 16 months of age
Calve down at 85% of Mature Body Size 23 to 25 months of age
5 BIG reasons to Grow Heifers to calve @ 24months
Quick return on your Money. Need less pens, space, water
troughs and feed troughs. Less animals on your farm so less
costs and feed. Cheaper than keeping for 3 years. Produces more productive cows