Best practice for management of heifers in seasonal calving systems

Dairy Specialist George Ramsbottom joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss best practice for management of heifers in order for them to calf down timely in seasonal calving systems. Firstly, George explains that only 80% of dairy heifers calf, owing to heifers not achieving target weight prior to mating start date, sub-optimal breeding management and mortality. At mating start date, heifers should weigh 60% of their mature live weight and this is dictated by genetics; individual heifers’ live weight can be calculated based on their maintenance sub-index. For heifers identified as below target, George recommends that they are separated from the main group and fed high quality grass, where weight gain in excess of 1 kg per day can be achieved. George encourages farmers to select ‘low risk’ calving difficulty sires for heifers to ensure ease of calving in heifers next spring. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com