The Rural Voice, 1988-06, Page 49SPECIAL
DON'T OVERLOOK
MANAGING HEIFERS
A well-managed program for rear-
ing heifers will promote maximum
growth and could put the heifers into the
milking string by 24 to 26 months, but
heifers are sometimes "overlooked"
because they are not directly contribut-
ing to income.
Heifers that aren't freshening by 26
months can cost as much as $3 a day
until calving, if you take into account
extra milk produced in a lifetime, calves
born and genetic gain, and lower inputs
for labour, feed, and fixed overhead.
Perhaps the real dollar advantage for
early -calving heifers is the reduction of
heifer numbers on the farm, allowing
more space per animal and so improving
the growth of all heifers. A good bench-
mark is a one to one ratio of cows to
heifers.
Under poor management, calves die
and cows drop in production, but heifers
just "rough it." Since skeletal growth
comes to a virtual stop at 24 months of
age, just roughing it can lead to smaller
heifers, health problems, and disap-
pointing performances as cows.
A study in Huron County indicated
that it can cost as much as $1,000 to raise
a heifer from birth to 24 months. Feed is
the major expense, but housing, bed-
ding, veterinary care, medicine, ma-
chinery, electricity, and interest all add
up. The dollar value of these items
should be considered when calculating
your cost of production.
Usually labour, feed, and housing
are the major factors that will influence
the number of calves to raise. "Econom-
ics" is just one more important factor
that should not be forgotten!0
Dennis Martin, Huron OMAF
Farm Management Specialist
For Your Information:
In 1960, the average dairy cow
produced 5,985 pounds
of milk. In 1985,
the average
m ilk
production
per cow was 10,540.
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HAYMAKING
EFFICIENCY
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JUNE 1988 47