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Studies in the Growth and Nutrition of Dairy Calves

IV. The Feed Cost of Growing Dairy Heifers

Animal Husbandry, Dairy Husbandry Section, Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Ames, Iowa

ABSTRACT

As a result of the study of the feed cost of growing 40 dairy heifers from birth to freshening, the following statements may be presented for consideration.

1. Of the 40 heifers studied, 24 dropped between October 1 and March 31, were classed as winter heifers, while the remaining 16, dropped between April 1 and September 30, were classed as summer heifers.
   
2. The average age of freshening in each lot was twenty-nine months; each month being a period of thirty days and not a calendar month.
   
3. The average birth weights were 68 pounds for the winter heifers, 64 pounds for the summer heifers and 67 pounds for all of the animals.
   
4. The average weights at freshening were 1010 pounds, 941 pounds and 982 pounds for the winter, summer and all groups respectively, while the average live weight gains from birth to freshening for these groups were 942 pounds, 877 pounds and 915 pounds.
   
5. For average daily live weight gains through the trial the winter heifers led with 1.09 pounds, while the summer heifers had 1.01 pounds, and the average for all was 1.05 pounds.
   
6. In total feed cost of production the ranking was: winter heifers, $109.89; summer heifers, $102.43, and all heifers, $106.81 each.
   
7. The average feed cost per pound of increase in live weight was 11.7 cents in all groups.