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