DSD7 - No magic body weight target for success

Dairy Science Digest's Reagan Bluel interviews Dr. Chad Dechow, Geneticist from Penn St., to discuss the sweet spot in heifer development for the 7th episode of Dairy Science Digest. This 15 year research project supported that the biggest heifers aren't the most profitable for your operation. Heaviest heifers are 49% more likely to be culled at a given time. Moderate sized heifers that reach between 73-77% mature rate at first calving can produce more milk WITHOUT  sacrificing long term milk yield and herd life. Dechow's Journal of Dairy Science article is in press and found at: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30916-4/fulltext    #2xAg2030