Myth: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

Early life performance and future implications

Abstract

The effects of pre- and post-weaning performance and environment on production and longevity of cows later in life has become the focus of intense research in recent years. Here, we will present examples of the positive effects of accelerated early growth during weaning, post-weaning, and adulthood. Most importantly, we describe how producers can achieve elevated performance in their calves to see these benefits in the long-term, while also discussing potential risks in this investment.