In politics, the focus has been the economy. For dairy farmers, the focus is replacement heifers. With beef on dairy cashing in at $1,000 to $1,200 at 10 days of age and quality replacement springer heifers ready to fresh at $3,000 to $4,000, decisions on heifer management is keen. USDA reported 3.9 million dairy heifers (over 500 lb.); the lowest number since 1978 with 9.4 million cows.
Question: How many heifers do you need?
Answer: Every farm should know this number. Your cull rate is the first number. In my example I will use a herd that culls 100 cows annually. I will need to freshen 100 heifers a year, but all heifers born on the farm do not enter the milking herd. Death loss before weaning (5% in my example), losses of older heifers due to injury or accidents (2%), and heifers that do not conceive (5%) results in needing 112 heifers. One guideline is adding 10% to the number of heifers needed. If you are planning to expand, the number goes up.
Tools: Check your records and determine numbers for your farm.
Question: How many heifer diets are needed on your farm?
Answer: Five diets are recommended as listed below.
- Diet 1: Calf starter up to 3 months of age (with added forage from 2 to 3 months)
- Diet 2: Heifer grower diet from 3 to 6 months of age (could be the lactating TMR)
- Diet 3: Heifer grower diet from 6 to 12 months of age
- Diet 4: Heifer grower diet from 12 to 22 months of age
- Diet 5: Springer diet from 22 to 24 months of age
The number of groups ideally is eight with postweaned calves, two groups with Diet 2 (age range of two months, reduce competition), two groups with Diet 3 (age range of three months), two groups with Diet 4 (breeding pen and pregnant pen), and springing heifer pen (Diet 5). Table 1 lists nutrient content for Diet 2, 3 and 4. Economics are important along with achieving the target rate of gains.
Tools: Compare your rations to the nutrient levels in Table 1. Facilities can limit grouping options increasing competition and overcrowding.
Question: What growth targets should you monitor?
Answer: The heifer’s weight gain should double (85 lb. heifer calf that reaches 170 lb. at 7 to 8 weeks of age) is 1.7 lb. per day. Conception weight is 55% of mature body weight on the farm. First calving is 82% of mature body weight. To calve at 23 months of age, heifers need to gain 1.7 lb. to 1.8 lb. per day.
Tools: Twice a year, measure heifer groups at weaning, 6 months of age, 12 months, 18 months and after calving (not weighting the unborn calf, placenta and fluids). Compare your growth rates to the Penn State growth charts. An Illinois field study found heifers at 6 months of age were underweight (dry-matter limitation and diet quality slowed growth) while older heifers gained excessive weight (higher dry-matter intake). Determine your heifer growth patterns.
Question: Should I raise extra heifers or add beef on dairy calves?
Answer: It depends on your situation and number of heifers needed. The use of genomics allows you to determine which heifer and cows should be selected to produce heifer calves. Semen can achieve 85% to 90% heifer calves from selected cows and heifers. Beef on dairy allows you to clip an additional $600 compared to a Holstein bull calf (valued at $500) at 10 days of age. Raising extra heifers might allow you to collect $1,000 premium over total costs at two years of age. How strong will the heifer market be two years from now? Will the beef market change in the next nine months? Each dairy farmer will make this decision depending on expansion plans, current cash flow and future outlook.
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