Heifer feeding and management programs
have a great impact on the efficiency of the future
dairy herd. Dairies that feed and manage heifers
for calving at about 24 mo of age are optimizing
milk production, feed cost for raising heifers,
number of replacement heifers available, and
return on investment.
Replacement heifers represent a considerable
investment in labor and feed, with no return on
that investment until they freshen. A summary of
Kansas DHIA Holstein herds shows that some
herds are receiving a good return on investment
as early as 22 mo of age, whereas other herds are
not reaping any return until 31 mo (Figure 1).
The summary also shows that herds with heifers
freshening at an average age of 24 to 25 mo have
the highest Rolling Herd Averages for milk
production.
