The future of the dairy herd is dependent on the production of superior heifers to replace culled lactating animals. Therefore, it is imperative that the health status of the replacement animal is optimized to present a healthy first calf heifer to the lactating herd. Studies have consistently demonstrated the detrimental effects of pneumonia in calves on age at first calving and on milk production once these animals enter lactation. Calves with respiratory infections were twice as likely to leave the herd and age at first calving was delayed by 6 months when compared with calves that did not experience respiratory disease or pneumonia. In another study, calves treated for scours were three times more likely to calve at 30 months of age or greater.

Raising dairy replacement heifers is expensive. In fact, if the dairy is divided into different enterprises (eg. labor, feed cost for lactating cows, facilities, etc.), rearing replacements is the second largest cost, behind feed cost for lactating cows. The percentage will vary from farm to farm, but approximately 9% to 20% of the expenses incurred will involve rearing and developing heifers. Therefore, heifers should represent a sound investment, as their impact on future herd profitability is enormous.

Profitability in the dairy business is NOT the herd with the larger milk check, or the greater volume in the bulk tank, but the producer who retains a larger sum of revenues at the end of the month (income minus expenses equals profits). One of the larger expenses incurred on the dairy is replacement heifer rearing. Replacement rearing is second only to feed cost for the lactating cows. In surveys of dairy expenditures, this item accounts for 9 to 20% of the total expenses on the farm. In the authors' experience, producers are seldom aware of what heifers cost to raise, and most producers think that these expenses are negligible. Heifers are a high cost item when expenses are divided among the various enterprises on the farm.

A critical evaluation of production in first lactation heifers once they reach the milking herd is important to determine the effects of the heifer rearing program. This can easily be done by monitoring start-up milk (milk production 0 to 40 days in milk), start-up milk butterfat and protein, and peak milk, peak milk butterfat and protein (41 to 100 days in milk) because these are directly related to heifer development.

Monitoring dairy heifer growth and development will insure that calves are on target to reach a weight of 1350 pounds at calving, with a height of 54 inches at the shoulders, and a body condition score of 3.25 to a 3.5 (5 Point scale) at 24 months of age (Figure 1). Heifers should start lactation with a post-calving weight between 1225 and 1250 pounds; therefore, they will need to add 50 pounds of body weight per month from birth to first calving for an average daily gain of 1.8 pounds per day. Average daily gains of 1.3 pounds per day are too low because they add only 40 pounds per month, resulting in a post-calving weight of 950 pounds. By strategically feeding during specific growth phases, producers can set goals for different months of age, cut expenses, and increase profits for the dairy.

Several factors can dramatically reduce replacement-rearing cost and increase potential profits for the producer: (1) maximizing immunity from colostrum to minimize mortality and sickness, (2) formulating rations for specific weight gains during strategic periods of development and avoiding over-fattening prior to puberty because it impairs mammary development, (3) formulating rations for an average daily gain of 1.8 lb. for Holstein heifers, (4) using AI sires ranking in the top 20% for (PTA$) to optimize genetic improvement, (5) monitoring age, body weight, wither height, body condition score as well as peak milk and ME milk yield of first lactation heifers to evaluate management at first calving, and (5) controlling the size of the replacement herd by calving heifers at 24 months and raising no more than needed.

Reproductive efficiency is a major determinant of cow-calf profitability. The bull’s contribution to pregnancy rates is often overlooked.