The growth rate of heifers in a dairy herd

Ridler, B.J.; Broster, W. H.; Foot, A. S.

doi:10.1017/s0021859600013629

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…At an age of 36 months, the suggested mean post-calving weight of Friesians is within the range of 489-538 kg for calving between 31-36 months found by Ridler, Broster & Foot (1963), Ridler, Broster & Westgarth (1965) and Ridler & Broster (1968). For calving at 24 months, a pre-calving target weight of 510 kg has been suggested (MMB, 1976) with an increase of 20 kg for each six months increase in age.…”

Section: Weight At First Calvingsupporting

confidence: 53%

Rearing Dairy Herd Replacements

Roy¹

1978

Int J of Dairy Tech

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A reduction in the age of calving of heifers should give a quicker return on capital; reduce the number of dairy heifer replacements being reared at any one time; and allow the assessment of the genetic value of a heifer at a younger age. Target weights for first calving at different ages are suggested. The desired age of first calving may not be achieved because of late puberty. Age at puberty is affected both by growth rate and season of birth. The greatest deterrent to a reduced age at calving is the increased risk of dystokia.

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Section: Weight At First Calvingsupporting

confidence: 53%

Rearing Dairy Herd Replacements

Roy¹

1978

Int J of Dairy Tech

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“…Decreases of from 4 lb to 13 lb in the birth weight of calves due to reduced prepartum levels of feeding have previously been reported (Wiltbank et at. 1962;Joubert 1954;Ridler, Broster, and Foot 1963;Blaxter 1957). The literature suggests that substantial changes in the birth weight of calves would occur only with severe undernutrition, particularly near calving.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plane of nutrition effects in late pregnancy and during lactation on beef cows and their calves to weaning

Hight

1968

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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“…Factors affecting growth rate Ridler et al (1963) observed that for the period 0-6 months after birth the incidental factors which make up the environment during the growth period did not appear to have had a marked effect on total growth. Similarly here, though environmental factors had transient effects on current growth rate, they affected final live weight to a small extent only.…”

Section: General Variationmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Management during calf hood was described in the earner paper (Ridler et al 1963). From 6 months onwards many of the heifers were included in feeding experiments lasting 3-6 months (Bailey, Balch & Murdoch, 1955;Bailey & Broster, 1957;Bartlett & Broster, 1958;Broster, Tuck & Balch, 1963a, b, 1964Balch, Broster, Rook & Tuck, 1965;Broster, Sutton, Tuck & Balch, 1965).…”

Section: Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and managerial factors affecting the growth of Friesian heifers from six months of age to calving

Ridler

Broster

1968

J. Agric. Sci.

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The growth of 120 Friesian heifers born into one herd over a period of 12 years was studied for the period from 6 months of age to calving at about 30-35 months of age. Live weights were recorded weekly and rates of live-weight gain were calculated for each 3-month period for each animal. At 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age the heifers weighed 360, 590, 800 and 950 lb. The coefficients of variation of live weight did not vary with age and averaged ±10-0%. Coefficients of variation of live-weight gain increased from ± 20 % at 6-9 months of age to + 60 % at 24-27 months of age. Growth rate declined by 0-02 lb/day from 12 months to 30 months of age for animals under constant managerial conditions. Heifers wintered indoors grew faster than those wintered outdoors. The growth of younger animals was decreased more by outdoor wintering (a reduction of 0-6 lb/day at 15 months) than was the growth rate of older animals (a reduction of 0-3 lb/day at 21 months of age). When live-weight gain was low in winter there was marked compensatory growth at grass the following summer. Pregnant heifers grew 0-1 lb/day faster in early pregnancy and 0-6 lb/day faster in the last 4 months of pregnancy than did barren heifers.There was no appreciable difference between the live-weight gain of spring-and autumn-born heifers. With an autumn calving policy spring-born heifers were served and conceived 135 days earlier and weighed 106 lb less at calving than did autumn-born heifers. There was little difference in the milk yield of the two groups in 305 days of the first lactation.

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The growth rate of heifers in a dairy herd

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

Rearing Dairy Herd Replacements

Rearing Dairy Herd Replacements

Plane of nutrition effects in late pregnancy and during lactation on beef cows and their calves to weaning

Environmental and managerial factors affecting the growth of Friesian heifers from six months of age to calving

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