dairy husbandry summary.docx

### **Life Cycle of a Replacement Heifer: Birth to 2 Years** **Birth and Early Care**: - **Gestation**: 283 days - **Birth**: 80% in spring - **Immediate Care**: Clear airways, disinfect navels, rub for circulation, feed 2-3 liters colostrum **Calf Rearing**: - **Feeding Sequence**...

### **Life Cycle of a Replacement Heifer: Birth to 2 Years** **Birth and Early Care**: - **Gestation**: 283 days - **Birth**: 80% in spring - **Immediate Care**: Clear airways, disinfect navels, rub for circulation, feed 2-3 liters colostrum **Calf Rearing**: - **Feeding Sequence**: Colostrum, natural milk, milk replacer, concentrates/hay/grass - **Milk Replacer**: Prevents milk loss, regular feeding to avoid scour **Housing**: - Clean, well-ventilated, draught-free, with clean bedding and water **Weaning**: - Leader-follower grazing system for selective grazing and disease prevention **Overwintering (9 Months)**: - Fed good quality silage with 75% DMD, dosed for hoose **Year 2 (Replacement Heifer)**: - **Selection Criteria**: Genetic merit, replacing lower yield cows, BCS 3.25 at mating, target weight 300-330kg - **Feeding**: Grass, silage with 75% DMD ad lib - **Farm Safety**: Adherence to safety measures ### **Key Practices** - **Ear Tagging**: For identification and BVD control - **Housing**: Clean, dry, well-ventilated, with adequate space - **Health**: Vaccination, dosing, foot care - **Farm Safety**: Ensuring safe practices in handling and managing livestock ### **Nutritional Management** - **Colostrum**: High in antibodies, crucial for passive immunity - **Milk Replacer**: Regular feeding to avoid digestive issues - **Concentrates/Hay/Grass**: Gradual introduction for rumen development ### **Selection of Replacement Heifers** - **Criteria**: Genetic merit, body condition score, target weight - **Bull Selection**: Based on Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and sub-indexes ### **Body Condition Score (BCS)** - **Scale**: 1 to 5, with 1 being underweight and 5 being overweight - **Target**: BCS of 3.25 at mating This summary captures the essential points of the life cycle of a replacement heifer, from birth to the second year, focusing on care, feeding, housing, and selection for dairy production.