Dairy heifers are an asset selling at over $3,000 as the number of heifers available is limiting. Beef-on-dairy calves have reduced the number of heifers on farms as beef-on-dairy calves are selling at over $1,000 at two weeks of age. When pregnant heifers are ready to enter the milking herds, these opportunities can be considered improving your heifer program on your farm.
Opportunity 1
Average daily gain of your heifers is important. Most dairy managers know the daily milk yield of the herd and rolling herd average. Average daily gain for Holstein heifers should be 1.6 lb. to 1.8 lb. per day (1.4 lb. to 1.6 lb. for Jersey heifers). Average dairy gain before 12 months of age can be 1.8 lb. to 2.0 lb. per day for Holstein leading to protein gain and growth in stature. After 12 months of age, the gain might be lower at 1.5 lb. to 1.7 lb. with more fat compared to protein deposition.
Opportunity 2
Heifer size and age are key for milk production in first lactation milk yield. Heifers should calve in at 85% of mature milk cow body weight of the herd at 23 months of age. If your heifers are 24 months or older at calving, explore why this is occurring. If the heifer breeding program using hormonal protocol is not correct or effective, this can lead to delayed pregnancy. Are heifers not at optimal weight? Are you breeding based on age or size? Research indicates heifers over 24 months of age produce less milk and can experience udder edema. If heifers grew more than 2" during the first lactation, the heifer rearing program was not adequate. If heifers are not grown to optimize size, these heifers will divert nutrients away from milk yield to growth.
Opportunity 3
Close-up heifers are not the same as close-up older cows. Close-up heifers need the additional nutrients that older cows do not require. The challenges for heifers are the nutrient requirement to gain 1.5 lb. for continued growth, mammary gland development, calf development in the uterus and colostrum production. If the close-up pen contains both pregnant heifers and older cows, heifers can be short of nutrients or older cows can gain more weight. This same challenge occurs in the 60-day dry program (one group of dry cows leads to similar problems). The solution is separate dry and close-up heifer groups to allow tailoring nutrients needs and dry-matter intake reducing competition with older cows. Researchers report heifers do not experience lower blood calcium and do not need anionic salts or phosphorous binders in close-up rations saving 60¢ to 90¢ a day in the close-up heifer diet.
Opportunity 4
A separate heifer group after calving for fresh cows allows less competitive heifers to consume the optimal dry-matter intake. Because heifers are smaller and less dominant, dry-matter intake will be lower for these heifers when grouped with older cows. The eating pattern is also different compared to older cows (rate of dry-matter intake per minute, meal size and meal frequency). Heifer fresh cow pens should be under 90% capacity to minimize competition at the feeding bunk and beds to lie down. The ration should contain higher nutrient levels compared to older cows due to lower matter intake and continued growth to mature size.
Take home message
Heifers have unique requirements and challenges leading to individual groups, adjustments in feed additives and rations designed to meet growth and milk needs. Heifers are replacement animals allowing optimal culling. If managed correctly, heifers can express their genetic superiority and experience less metabolic challenges.
Your Next Read:
Why More Dairy Farms Are Using Drones to Manage Feed Inventories
