Calf & Heifer Rearing Systems

What Are Calf & Heifer Rearing Systems?

Calf and heifer rearing systems encompass the housing, feeding, and management practices used to raise dairy replacements from birth to first calving. Successful rearing produces healthy, well-grown heifers that calve on time and become productive cows. Poor rearing affects lifetime performance.

Calf Housing Options

Individual Hutches

Outdoor plastic or fiberglass units housing one calf each. Popular for young calves through weaning. Provide isolation that reduces disease spread and allows individual monitoring.

Group Housing

Pens housing multiple calves together. Can be used from birth or after initial individual housing. Require careful management to prevent disease spread and ensure all calves eat adequately.

Calf Barns

Indoor facilities with individual or group pens. Provide weather protection but require good ventilation to maintain air quality. Common in cold climates.

Feeding Programs

Milk/Milk Replacer

Calves receive whole milk or reconstituted milk replacer typically twice daily. Increasing milk feeding rates (10-12 quarts/day vs. traditional 4-6 quarts) improves growth but requires higher-quality replacers.

Automatic Calf Feeders

Computerized systems that mix and dispense milk replacer on demand. Allow frequent small meals and track individual intake. Require group housing.

Calf Starter/Grain

Palatable grain offered free-choice from the first week. Rumen development depends on grain intake. Quality starters contain adequate protein (18-22%) and are highly digestible.

Heifer Development

After weaning, heifers grow through puberty to breeding age. Goals include:

• Achieving breeding weight (55-60% of mature weight) by 13-15 months
• Calving at 22-24 months of age
• Avoiding over-conditioning that reduces future production
• Maintaining health and preventing respiratory disease

Key Management Practices

• Colostrum management: Quality colostrum within first hours of life
• Navel care: Disinfection to prevent navel infections
• Vaccination: Age-appropriate protocols for respiratory and clostridial diseases
• Monitoring: Regular growth measurements and health checks
• Weaning: Based on grain intake, not just age

Cost Considerations

Raising a heifer from birth to first calving costs $1,800-2,500+ depending on feed costs, housing, and labor. Calf mortality, poor growth, and delayed breeding age all increase costs. Investments in proper housing and nutrition typically pay off in better calf performance.