Heifers: An Opportunity and a Liability
Conference proceedings for the National Mastitis Council regarding considerations of heifer rearing and what we currently know.
Poor calf and heifer management represents a major loss in both economic and welfare terms for the dairy system. Strategies to improve the health of calves during their early life have been explored by researchers to reduce calf morbidity and mortality and to improve whole herd performance. Over the past decades, the dairy industry has undergone significant changes that have impacted the health and welfare of cattle, with many of these advancements being grounded in robust scientific studies. An even greater emphasis on the effective management and welfare of youngstock is anticipated in the near future. Calf and heifer management has seen already significant improvement in recent years as major changes have occurred in the industry, such as the increased understanding of epigenetics and genomics, as well as the use of sexed and beef semen. The needs of dairy calves, including colostrum management, proper ventilation, and strategies to mitigate heat stress, have been extensively reviewed in the literature. These factors are critical to dairy calf welfare, as they primarily address the biological functioning aspect of animal welfare. However, other aspects of youngstock management such as health, housing, and nutrition programs are also essential factors to consider for optimal rearing and welfare. In a recent review, Costa et al. (2019), we discussed the importance of these factors and their relation to the success of the future dairy herd.
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Work Title Heifers: An Opportunity and a Liability Subtitle National Mastitis Council Conference Proceedings Access Creators - Joao Costa
- Melissa Cantor
- Megan Woodrum Setser
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved) Work Type Article Publisher - National Mastitis Council
Publication Date January 9, 2025 Deposited June 08, 2026 Versions
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Conference proceedings for the National Mastitis Council regarding considerations of heifer rearing and what we currently know.- Conference proceedings for the National Mastitis Council regarding considerations of heifer rearing and what we currently know.
- Poor calf and heifer management represents a major loss in both economic and welfare terms for the dairy system. Strategies to improve the health of calves during their early life have been explored by researchers to reduce calf morbidity and mortality and to improve whole herd performance. Over the past decades, the dairy industry has undergone significant changes that have impacted the health and welfare of cattle, with many of these advancements being grounded in robust scientific studies. An even greater emphasis on the effective management and welfare of youngstock is anticipated in the near future. Calf and heifer management has seen already significant improvement in recent years as major changes have occurred in the industry, such as the increased understanding of epigenetics and genomics, as well as the use of sexed and beef semen. The needs of dairy calves, including colostrum management, proper ventilation, and strategies to mitigate heat stress, have been extensively reviewed in the literature. These factors are critical to dairy calf welfare, as they primarily address the biological functioning aspect of animal welfare. However, other aspects of youngstock management such as health, housing, and nutrition programs are also essential factors to consider for optimal rearing and welfare. In a recent review, Costa et al. (2019), we discussed the importance of these factors and their relation to the success of the future dairy herd.
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