Don’t neglect the heifers

Brandon Covey for Progressive Dairyman

Visiting other dairies, I’ve noticed that oftentimes, the heifer program gets overlooked. Sure, the silage looks great, the office is spotless and the cows are eating a nice ration. But the heifers fend for themselves in overcrowded pens eating throwbacks from the cows (that is, if the dairyman doesn’t consider this “wasting” it). When confronted with this issue, the usual response is, “Well, they’ll get the good stuff when they start making money.” Granted, especially during times of low milk prices, cutbacks have to start somewhere.

But is this really the place to begin? Think of a healthy and productive family. They didn’t get this way by neglecting their children. Along the way, they probably had to cut some corners. But more than likely, it wasn’t at the kids’ expense. It may sound harsh or extreme, but if we’re not going to take care of them, shouldn’t we “adopt” them out to someone who will?

That’s why I especially enjoy visiting heifer ranches. They understand that these animals are the future of a dairy. They raise quality heifers because their livelihood depends on it. The Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association (PDHGA) has made some great strides for these types of operations.

At a recent PDHGA meeting, I got to hear a great presentation by Dr. Tom Fuhrmann (DVM). He emphasized the importance of effectively monitoring heights, bodyweights and body condition score. While some producers can do this visually, it can be very beneficial to take random samples and graph them against a standard. Visual evaluations often only take into consideration the heifers at the feedbunk. They might look past the heifers in the back or those not willing to fight for a space. Also, unless eartags are marked with an easy-to-read birthday, that 16-month-old heifer can look pretty good next to a bunch of yearlings. After weaning, breeding age is another crucial time to carefully inspect heifers.

As with every batch, there are probably a few bad apples. But most of the heifer raisers I’ve run across are pretty good ol’ boys. They remind me of a mix between a dairyman and a cowboy. I have often contemplated getting into this business myself. Just having no cows to milk would be a big plus in my book. Sure, heifer growers are still somewhat at the mercy of the milk market and cattle prices. But a well-thought-out contract can benefit the grower and the customer and minimize losses.

Of course, that lifestyle isn’t for everyone, either. And quality heifers can be raised right there on the dairy. It may require another employee, a ration change or revising the pens themselves. However, that’s not to say that I or anyone else has all the answers to raising the perfect heifer. But at a critical time in their lives, it’s important that we help them all we can. After all, a larger, healthier heifer can enter the milking string sooner and become a more productive “adult.” As always, God does the rest. PD