Preparing Your In-Calf Heifers for Spring 2024
As we head into the winter months, it’s crucial to prioritize your in-calf heifers. These young cows will be joining the milking herd in a few months, so ensuring they’re in prime condition is vital for a successful calving season and productive lactation.
The Ideal Weight for Calving
Heifers should calve down at 90% of their mature body weight. For Friesian heifers, this means aiming for around 550kg, while Jersey heifers should target approximately 500kg.
The mature weight of a cow can vary depending on her maintenance sub-index (EBI).
| Maintenane index EBI (€) | -10 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Mature weight (kg) | 690 | 640 | 590 | 540 | 490 |
Heifers born in early February to March 2022 are now around 18 to 19 months old and should be roughly 75 to 80% of their mature body weight.
Feeding Strategies for Optimal Calving
If heifers calve down below 90% of their mature weight, it can negatively impact their performance and fertility. It’s crucial to monitor their condition and adjust feeding strategies accordingly:
- Targets Heifers: Provide ad-lib good quality silage over the winter.
- Behind-Target Heifers: Supplement with meal up to six weeks before calving.
Separate underweight heifers to prevent bullying at the feed space and ensure they have comfortable access to silage.
Important Monitoring Points
Heavily monitor these heifers throughout the winter, and address any setbacks promptly to minimize negative impacts on growth and performance.
Early Parlour Introduction for Less Stress
Introduce heifers to the parlour during the housing period. This familiarization reduces stress during the already hectic calving period.
Calving is a stressful time for young heifers, and entering the parlour for the first time post-calving can be daunting.
Training heifers in the parlour gradually allows farmers to provide additional concentrates to heifers that need it and observe their overall health.
This allows farmers to detect and treat any warts or infections promptly.
Investing in Your Future
Bringing heifers through to milk can be a significant investment, so ensure they calve down healthy and strong enough to thrive through multiple lactations. By prioritizing their care now, you’re setting them up for success in the future.