Preparing dairy heifers for a successful first lactation can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Use the team around you to focus on proper management and nutrition to get your heifers off to a great start.

The current trend in the dairy industry is to decrease age at conception, thereby decreasing age at first calving (AFC) to decrease raising costs by generating income from milk production sooner.

Dr. Rebecca Klopp, calf and heifer specialist for Purina Animal Nutrition, is joining us today to share why care and nutrition play an important role in overall calf health, growth and future milk production performance.

The initial cost of implementing the appropriate heat abatement in barns and on pasture may be intimidating, but keeping all cattle, including heifers, cool can provide a good return on your investment as it makes them more comfortable, thereby making the negative effects of heat stress less severe, and setting them up for success for their future lactations.

Against the backdrop of ongoing water shortages and high feed costs, there are compelling reasons to increase the productive life of dairy herds.