Heifers

Maximizing heifer reproduction in a changing dairy landscape

douglas.duhatschek@parnell.com — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

There is a need for a more intentional and strategic approach to heifer management, particularly in reproduction. With fewer animals in the pipeline, mistakes such as delayed breeding or missed opportunities can have a greater impact on herd performance and profitability.

Dairy replacement cow prices fall back to last spring

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:13:33 -0400

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.

Getting breeding heifers off to a healthy start to their career

russell.daly@sdstate.edu — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Transitioning a heifer calf into a productive, long-term member of the breeding herd requires attention to many important factors, including nutrition, genetic and breeding decisions, and environmental management. Disease and health challenges, however, can undermine all that work.

Dairy replacement cow prices hit new unprecedented high

audrey@agproud.com — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:52:41 -0400

Quarterly average prices in July reach highest level on record of $3,010 per head according to estimates from the USDA.

Replacement cow prices keep rising in 2025

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 15 May 2025 12:42:34 -0400

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows continued to climb entering the first half of 2025, hitting a new record-breaking high in April, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA.

What’s the solution to the heifer shortage?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy heifers are in short supply – and they’re not the sort of commodity we can restock in a hurry. Read about the ramifications of the heifer shortage on milk yields, dairy product prices and livestock values.

Heat stress in heifers: Causes, effects and management

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Heat stress is a challenge many dairy operations face, particularly during the summer and fall months. When temperatures rise and humidity increases, livestock are forced to adapt to try to cope with the heat. This can lead to a wide range of health and productivity issues.

Managing replacement costs

lkruse@selectsires.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I have had the opportunity to analyze dairy software files from dairy operations across many states in the U.S., and I still see great opportunities to reduce herd turnover costs within many dairy operations. Here are a few areas to consider as you look at how to plan for your future replacement costs.

Best practices for managing heifer reproduction

pweber@genex.coop — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Your heifers are the future of your herd, and getting them to an ideal weight at the proper age is important to the future success of your business. Following simple protocols to get them bred at the ideal time will pay significant future dividends.

Pathways to profitability with heifer inventory management

pete.dueppengiesser@stgen.com — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

With current milk prices, dairy farmers are trying to lower costs, while optimizing their return opportunities. With the average cost of raising a dairy replacement heifer at over $2,500, according to a 2019 Cornell Cooperative Extension survey, heifer inventory management and raising the right replacements is a critical part of that plan.

Mastitis in fresh heifers: A major problem

theudderdoctor@gmail.com — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In my 50 years of experience, managing the level of SCC and mastitis in fresh heifers is critical to achieving excellent milk quality. There are many important ways to improve milk quality on your dairy, but don’t let fresh heifers contribute to your issues.

Developing a productive, sustainable life for dairy cows

gstaley@diamondv.com — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Productive life can be like a New Year’s resolution. It sounds like a good idea, but often it doesn’t come true. Increasing the productive life of dairy herds needs to be a priority for the dairy industry.

Feeding show heifers during different stages of growth

josh_hushon@cargill.com — Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The number one goal of a feeding program is to promote healthy development from birth to freshening. Additionally, we want to maximize each heifer’s growth and genetic potential to its fullest – while also promoting healthy hair coats, good muscle tone and ideal body condition – when it matters most, show days.

Heifers and long-day lighting: What we know so far

mario.mondaca@ves-artex.com — Fri, 03 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Long-day lighting for heifers follows the same recommendations as lactating cows. The goal is to provide constant and evenly distributed light levels for a period of 16 to 18 hours of light and six to eight hours of darkness in the barn.

Replacement cow prices match 10-year peak

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 01 May 2024 12:37:50 -0400

Quarterly average prices in April reached the same peak of $2,120 per head as seen in October 2014.

Creating a win-win: Grazing heifers for economic and ecological returns

aschank@wisc.edu — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy heifer grazing increases the amount of well-managed grassland in an area – improving dairy’s climate performance and supporting the regeneration of soil, water and biodiversity resources.

Discussing timely producer questions

Crystal_Prom@cargill.com — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Learn how to manage forage inventories after harvest, improve average daily gain of calves and capitalize during times of tight farm margins.

Preparing dairy heifers for first-lactation success

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:09:03 -0400

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.

Wait or weight? How defining insemination eligibility and reproductive performance of heifers impacts first-lactation bodyweight and milk production

mrlauber@wisc.edu — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 09:14:56 -0400

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.

[Podcast] Importance of mineral supplementation for dairy heifers

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy replacement heifers are an extremely valuable component of a dairy operation. Not only are they the future of the lactating herd, but they determine your long-term profitability. That’s why providing them with adequate and consistent vitamin and trace mineral nutrition is important to help support optimal growth, health, immunity, reproduction and hoof integrity.

What is the right number of heifers to raise?

jim.moriarty@compeer.com — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

If we go back 10-plus years, most dairy farms bred all their cows and heifers for dairy calves and raised all heifer calves as dairy herd replacements.

Use these data insights to improve heifer reproduction efficiency

luis.mendonca1@merck.com — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 13:32:00 -0400

[Podcast] Raising healthy and productive dairy heifers

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0400

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.

Heat stress and the often-forgotten heifers

cab7033@psu.edu — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 07:50:53 -0400

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.

Platinum heifers won’t be dropouts

gstaley@diamondv.com — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

It’s easy to become impatient and want to breed heifers early to get them into the lactating herd and have them start paying off their debts as soon as possible.

Turn platinum heifers into golden girls

gstaley@diamondv.com — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 08:34:31 -0400

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

Three reasons genomic testing can help improve calf programs

geoffreywilson.smith@zoetis.com — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

A dairy producer’s dream and goal is a low-maintenance herd with minimized disease instances, great fertility and longevity. Where can they achieve these results?

Feeding calcium and dietary cation-anion difference in the close-up period: How much is enough?

tro2@cornell.edu — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 15:39:26 -0500

The transition period is a tumultuous period for a cow and those of us trying to manage them. During this time cows are particularly prone to mineral and metabolic imbalances that can leave them more susceptible to diseases as well as lower milk production and poorer reproductive performance.

Helping heifers become healthy mothers

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:40:47 -0400

Calving is a stressful time for all cattle but especially for heifers. The entire experience is new to them and, on top of that, most heifers haven’t reached mature weight by the time they calve.

5 things to stop doing if you want to get serious about your calf program

bbrockmann@immucell.com — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:57:46 -0400

While a “good enough” mindset might work in some areas, it does not work in the calf program, where clear protocols are key to achieving excellence.