Heifers should preferably be
weighed at least once a month.
Their body weight should be recorded and compared to an ideal
growth curve in order to make adjustments in the feeding programme if necessary. In Table 4 the
suggested girth (chest) circumference, live weight and shoulder
height of heifers of various dairy
breeds at specific ages are presented.
In closing
Heifers should be grouped according to age, especially when
they are being fed. Age differences within any one group
should preferably be limited to a
maximum of two months. The
reason for this is that smaller
heifers are intimidated by larger
heifers, with the result that their
voluntary feed intake is reduced.
Heifers do not require sophisticated or expensive housing.
However, grouping them in
small paddocks should be prevented as the ground surface
quickly becomes wet and dirty.
Protection against extreme temperatures and particularly the
provision of shade on hot summer days are essential.
Correctly designed and well built
Age
(months)
Birth
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
feed troughs should be provided
for feeding heifers in order to
prevent injuries and feed wastage. Fit trough space to the size
of heifers within each specific
age group, i.e. 600 mm for older
heifers.
Calves and heifers should be
weighed or measured regularly,
at least monthly, in order to
monitor their development and
growth. A growth curve of each
heifer’s live weight gain in comparison to her age at weighing
should be kept. By comparing
the live weight gain of heifers to
an ideal growth curve, the efficiency of management can be
monitored. This will ensure that
adjustments to feeding programmes, amongst other things,
could be made well in time before they have a lasting detrimental effect on the animal’s
growth and performance.
Heifers should be treated calmly
and quietly with workers moving
amongst them daily. This should
particularly be done during the
last three months before the
expected calving date. If practically possible, heifers should be
introduced at an early age to the
milking parlour environment so
Girth
(mm)
Holstein
Live
weight
(kg)
Shoulder
height
(mm)
735
810
915
1 120
1 270
1 400
1 500
1 575
1 640
1 690
1 730
1 780
1 815
1 865
40
58
77
113
150
186
223
259
302
344
387
429
472
515
635
785
865
990
1 065
1 120
1 170
1 220
1 245
1 270
1 295
1 320
1 345
1 370
that they become familiar with
the facilities and daily routine.
This can be done by keeping the
heifers with dry cows in late
pregnancy, i.e. the steam-up
group. Usually these cows are
fed a specific steam-up dairy
meal in the milking parlour. This
means that they visit the dairy at
least twice a day. A wild, uncontrollable heifer at first calving
suffers enormous stress, and this
could be extremely detrimental
to her production during her
first lactation while also affecting the mood in the milking parlour upsetting other cows.
Before the age of one month,
heifer calves should be dehorned
with a branding iron and extra
teats should be removed.
A vaccination and immunisation
programme, compiled in collaboration with a local veterinarian,
should be followed according to
instructions.
Vaccinating heifer calves against
contagious abortion (Brucellosis)
at five months of age is compulsory by law and is also essential
because the cows cannot be vaccinated for this disease at a later
stage.
Ayrshire/Guernsey
Live
Shoulder
Girth
weight
height
(mm)
(kg)
(mm)
660
810
1 105
1 145
1 270
1 400
1 475
1 525
1 575
1 625
1 675
1 700
1 750
32/30
47/44
62/57
93/85
123/112
154/140
184/167
215/194
251/228
288/261
324/295
360/328
397/361
434/395
685
760
815
915
990
1 040
1 090
1 145
1 170
1 195
1 220
1 245
1 270
1 295
Girth
(mm)
Jersey
Live
weight
(kg)
Shoulder
height
(mm)
785
965
1 120
1 220
1 320
1 410
1 475
1 510
1 550
1 600
1 625
1 675
25
37
49
74
98
122
147
171
202
232
263
293
323
354
660
685
760
865
965
1 015
1 065
1 090
1 120
1 145
1 170
1 195
1 220
1 245
Table 4. The suggested girth circumference, live weight and shoulder height of replacement heifers growing at the lowest live weight gain for different dairy breeds