| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
1 Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706
The applied objective of rearing dairy replacement heifers is to minimize investment inputs while maximizing profitable outputs. To reduce inputs one fundamental methodology is to reduce rearing time. Research efforts to reduce the age at first calving below 22 to 24 mo have generally resulted in reduced milk yield. Research suggests that reductions in milk yield may be the result of high energy planes of nutrition, employed to reduce calving age, on mammary parenchyma tissue development.
This research is vital to an understanding of the effects of growth and development on the output potential of the replacement heifer, but it is not the only consideration in applied management. Other management factors, such as feed efficiency, dystocia, calving weight, and economics, also have a large influence on the decision-making process in management schemes for replacement heifers. When management schemes are developed, all of these factors must be taken into account, but at present, the interrelationships of management factors are poorly understood. As a consequence, only modest progress has been made in dairy replacement heifer management programs over the last three decades.
Making positive changes for the future requires creative thought, investigations of new concepts, and application of those concepts by innovative producers in a management program that results in acceptable performance and profitability.
Key Words: heifer • growth • applied • management
Submitted on September 27, 1991
Accepted on March 26, 1992
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. Bach, N. Valls, A. Solans, and T. Torrent Associations Between Nondietary Factors and Dairy Herd Performance J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2008; 91(8): 3259 - 3267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. I. Zanton and A. J. Heinrichs Meta-Analysis to Assess Effect of Prepubertal Average Daily Gain of Holstein Heifers on First-Lactation Production J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2005; 88(11): 3860 - 3867. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. Heinrichs, B. S. Heinrichs, O. Harel, G. W. Rogers, and N. T. Place A Prospective Study of Calf Factors Affecting Age, Body Size, and Body Condition Score at First Calving of Holstein Dairy Heifers J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2005; 88(8): 2828 - 2835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Roesch, M. G. Doherr, and J. W. Blum Performance of Dairy Cows on Swiss Farms with Organic and Integrated Production J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2005; 88(7): 2462 - 2475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Shamay, D. Werner, U. Moallem, H. Barash, and I. Bruckental Effect of Nursing Management and Skeletal Size at Weaning on Puberty, Skeletal Growth Rate, and Milk Production During First Lactation of Dairy Heifers J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2005; 88(4): 1460 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. F. Ettema and J. E. P. Santos Impact of Age at Calving on Lactation, Reproduction, Health, and Income in First-Parity Holsteins on Commercial Farms J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2004; 87(8): 2730 - 2742. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M Mondal and B S Prakash Effects of long-term GH-releasing factor administration on patterns of GH and LH secretion in growing female buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Reproduction, January 1, 2004; 127(1): 45 - 55. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
