Heifer inventory - Articles

Future-proofing the herd: Rethinking calf care

Building resilient, high-producing cows starts in the first 60 days of life. To do this, calves need a program that focuses on early rumen development, strategic nutrition and gut health management.

June 11, 2026

Tricia Wood

Faced with higher milk replacer costs, it can be tempting to trim milk replacer rates or step calves down sooner. But the first 60 days of life are not the place to cut corners.

Planning your herd’s genetic future: 4 points to consider

When planning for your herd's genetic future, there are multiple points to consider to maximize genetic progress and capitalize on the valuable beef-on-dairy calf market.

April 13, 2026

Gwen Powers

Although the industry has achieved rapid genetic advancement, with today’s competitive market, return on investment (ROI) is imperative. Here are several steps to consider when planning your herd’s genetic future for the best possible return on investment.

From assumptions to actuals: What farm data can tell us about heifer supply

Analyzing farm data can aid in creating the correct number of replacements.

March 20, 2026

Mark Doornink, Douglas Duhatschek, and Romulo Germano

Higher beef prices have created opportunities for dairy operations to generate additional revenue through dairy-beef crosses, raising an important and recurring question: Should I be breeding more beef semen or more dairy sexed semen in my herd?

Dairy replacement cow prices fall back to last spring

Quarterly average prices in January fell back to $2,860 per head according to estimates from the USDA.

March 18, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows dropped in January, falling back to levels similar to those seen in April 2025, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. U.S. replacement dairy cow prices averaged $2,860 per head in January 2026, down $250 (9%) from October 2025 but up $200 (7%) from January 2025.

State of Dairy: 2026 brings renewed excitement for school milk, on-farm technology and beef-on-dairy

New technology, a next generation that is excited to step up into leadership positions, a new law placing whole milk back on school menus and beef-on-dairy are some of the things bringing optimism to dairy producers this year.

March 9, 2026

Kimmi Devaney

The beginning of a new year is often a time to refresh goals and evaluate the vision for one’s life. Similarly, multiple people interviewed for this year’s State of Dairy coverage said late 2025 and early 2026 will be remembered as a reset.

Securing the right number of replacements: Every heifer matters

January 13, 2026

Becky Vincent

Are you disciplined and strategic in the way you manage your beef-on-dairy calves these days? With dairy replacement heifers in short supply and expected to remain that way until 2027, your management expertise matters more than ever.

Dairy replacement cow prices set new records in late 2025

Quarterly average prices in October reach highest level on record of $3,110 per head according to estimates from USDA.

December 18, 2025

Audrey Schmitz

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows kept rising into the fourth quarter of 2025, reaching their highest level on record in October, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. Meanwhile, average cull cow prices reached a peak in September 2025, held relatively steady in October and showed signs of stabilization as the year closes.

Strategic expansion: Growing a beef herd for long-term success

Expanding the commercial beef herd in today’s environment is a tricky endeavor, complete with a lengthy list of impactful factors to consider. Careful planning and a thorough cost analysis must anchor the decision-making process.

September 30, 2025

Bruce Derksen

For those considering growing their beef cattle herd, quick wins and day-to-day details may be extremely tempting to pursue. But like most things in life, it’s important to look well beyond the immediate. Expansion may have different meanings for different operations.

Striking a balance: Genetic superiority vs. age

New genetics do not always equal higher profitability. Take a look at your herd and see where you stand to improve.

August 29, 2025

Jeff Ziegler

The days of just making dairy replacement females as fast and furious as possible have taken a back seat to making just enough of the “right” replacement heifers to minimize rising raising costs and maintaining the proper heifer inventories for replacing milking cows that leave the herd.

Weekly Digest: CoBank reports dairy heifer inventories expected to shrink further over next two years

August 28, 2025

Karen Lee

In dairy-related news at the end of August 2025: a CoBank report shows dairy heifer inventories to shrink further before rebounding in 2027, checkoff launches an innovation contest for students, World Dairy Expo announces new trade show booth awards, and Dairy MAX names a new CEO.

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Articles Tagged with ''heifer inventory''

Future-proofing the herd: Rethinking calf care

Planning your herd’s genetic future: 4 points to consider

From assumptions to actuals: What farm data can tell us about heifer supply

Dairy replacement cow prices fall back to last spring

State of Dairy: 2026 brings renewed excitement for school milk, on-farm technology and beef-on-dairy

Securing the right number of replacements: Every heifer matters

Dairy replacement cow prices set new records in late 2025

Strategic expansion: Growing a beef herd for long-term success

Striking a balance: Genetic superiority vs. age

Weekly Digest: CoBank reports dairy heifer inventories expected to shrink further over next two years

Is managing for drought the new norm?

June 12, 2026 Progressive Dairy digital magazine

Land rental rates for Idaho agricultural operations

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