Breeding heifers on body weight alone may not be in your best interest, according to Pat Hoffman, dairy specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He shared information about heifer breeding...

If done well, grazing can lower forage costs and still maintain growth rates for dairy replacements. Raising calves and heifers can be the second largest cost on a dairy operation, shared David Combs,...

Rearing costs are high, but calving heifers too early may adversely impact lifetime milk production. by Abby (Huibregtse) Bauer, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor The earlier a heifer enters the milking...

A well-managed farm always has an abundant supply of high-quality forage and an abundant supply of high-quality heifers."

Every dairy conference has a presentation that unexpectedly makes you sit up straighter, listen closer and think harder

Utah veterinarian and dairy consultant Bob Corbett (pictured) doesn't look like a rabble-rouser, but he's a real militant when it comes to blowing up long-held ideas about feeding calves and heifers

Usually out of sight in the back of the dairy, replacements are also often out of mind when it comes to providing cooling relief during hot weather. But research has repeatedly shown that younger animals...

Multiple options to consider when breeding heifers. One of your greatest assets should be your heifer population. Raising quality heifers starts with proper sire selection, good dry cow and late-gestation...

In 1989, a major breakthrough in sperm sexing was reported by USDA scientists in rabbits. Insemination of rabbit does with Y-chromosome-bearing sperm resulted in 81 percent males, whereas insemination...

One of the most valuable resources on any dairy is the replacement heifer. As a group, they represent the most fertile population of females on the farm. In addition, if your sire selection has been wise,...

"Negative 500 and positive 500 average out to 0. Genomics enables you to look for the inferior calves that can pull your average down and move your progress backward," noted Pat Hoffman, a dairy replacement...

Higher culling rates have appeared to stem the robust buildup of dairy replacements by trimming inventories 41,000 head in January compared to last year's 4.57 million heifers. While that is welcomed news,...

Heifers are not only the most fertile group of females on your dairy, they generally represent the best genetics. De­­spite these positive attributes, too many dairies don't take full advantage...

Struggling with how big heifers should be by A. F. Kertz The author is in Dairy Field Technical Services and Research, Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition, St. Louis, Mo. Targeted heifer growth has...