Chapter 13: Heifer-Raising Options © 2005 Thomson Delmar Learning. All rights reserved.

Key Chapter Concepts: Appropriate housing facilities Essentials of heifer-raising Custom heifer-raising Heifer-raising vs. custom heifer-raising

Appropriate Housing Facilities Clean and dry resting surface Comfortable resting surface Shade Well-ventilated Draft-free Adequate space Sufficient access to feed and water Vaccination program Fly control

Essentials of Heifer-Raising — Requirements Accessible treatment area Method to monitor weight and height Parasite control program Access to self-locking mangers/freestalls Time to learn to use self-locking stalls

Essentials of Heifer-Raising — Newborn Calves Immediate identification Dip navels Feed colostrum within 30 minutes of birth Separate from mother within one hour Warming box Protection from adult manure

Essentials of Heifer-Raising — Before Weaning Calves Sanitized calf-feeding equipment Starter and water at two days old Avoid hay Pasteurize waste milk before feeding Health program to control coccidian

Essentials of Heifer-Raising — After Weaning Calves Socializing to build immunity Socializing to learn to compete 5 to 8 animals per group Similar sizes housed together No more than two months in age difference grouped together

Essentials of Heifer-Raising — Breeding-Age Heifer Easy method for artificial insemination Easy method for insertion of rumen magnet

Essentials of Heifer-Raising — Pre-Calving Heifer Transition to adult cow housing Transition to adult cow feed First hoof trimming and foot bath

Custom Heifer-Raising Advantage Concentration of resources on milking enterprise Disadvantage Unable to control production of animals

Heifer-Raising vs. Custom Heifer-Raising