Medical management of dairy heifers from birth to breeding

Abstract

The future of a dairy operation depends on the successful raising or procurement of heifer calves that will potentially equal and preferably exceed the milk production of the existing herd. In a modern dairy where rigid culling is practiced, 20-30% of the milking herd is usually replaced annually. Since mortality rates for young calves often exceed 20% under some management conditions, it is imperative that as many calves as possible be raised to maturity. This requires various disease control measures, including proper dry cow management, suitable calving facilities, colostrum feeding and navel disinfection in newborn calves, appropriate housing and adequate nutrition in growing calves. The following management procedures, adopted over many years of experience and research at Carnation Research Farm have been effective in reducing calfhood mortality to less than 3%.