The importance of growth targets in the lifetime performance of heifers

It is important to monitor performance of heifers in order to meet goals to get the heifer developed and grown well to optimise lifetime performance. Calving at 24 months has been shown to be the optimum for economic and lifetime performance but it is important that heifers meet key targets at critical stages in the rearing programme.

In the period from weaning to breeding there is often not enough attention paid to setting and checking growth targets for calves. Studies have shown that managing calves well in early life, makes a heifer ready for breeding at a good weight and good fertility at 13 months of age.

Calves should be at least double their birth weight by weaning, studies have shown that for every 100g increase in growth pre weaning, leads to an extra 225kg of milk produced in the heifers first lactation.

Heifers should be 55-60% of their mature body weight at bulling and pre calving 85-90% of their mature body weight.

Heifers should be 55-60% of their mature body weight at bulling and pre calving 85-90% of their mature body weight.

Weighing should take place at birth, weaning, 6 months old and at breeding, if you can every 6 weeks then this will give you a better indication of growth rates and the ability to monitor more closely in order to make sure your heifers are on target.

The importance of measuring heifers is because they are the future of your herd and if we don’t measure, we can’t monitor performance or improve if required. 

Read More: Monitoring growth to enable expression of full genetic potential