With calving starting or about to start on most dairy farms, there is a risk that the performance of maiden heifers will be moved down the list of priorities.

The most important weight in a heifer’s life is her weight at mating, as this has a huge determining effect on her fertility, both as a heifer, but also in subsequent matings, and her milk output, both as a first-calver and in subsequent lactations.

According to Teagasc, the target liveweight for a 12-month-old heifer on 1 February is 50% of her mature liveweight. For a 550kg mature liveweight, this is a target weight now of 275kg.

If the mature liveweight is heavier, at say 600kg, then the target liveweight of the heifers should be 300kg now.

Best policy is to know what weights your heifers are at. Weigh them over a scales, but if that is not possible use a weighband.

If cattle can be turned out to grass, target the below and on-target weight heifers first. Some farmers will group these in small numbers of less than 10 and assign them to a few fields on outfarms.

A small number of animals over a large area will do very little damage and get a long time out of the field.

Three categories

If heifers are going to be kept in for another month or more, then they must be split up and managed separately. Ideally, heifers should be split into three categories; those on, above and below target weight.

The below-target weight heifers should get good-quality silage and 3kg of meal per day. The heifers that are on target should get good-quality silage and 1.5kg of meal and those that are above target will suffice on good-quality silage only.

The key thing is to weigh your heifers to know where you stand

The heavier heifers don’t need to be pushed on too hard, as having heifers too heavy at mating is as bad as having heifers under target weight.

The key thing is to weigh your heifers to know where you stand. Don’t look and be satisfied at average weights, look at those that are above and below average.

Try to get heifers out to grass as soon as possible. Early grass dramatically improves daily liveweight gain and it helps to get more of the farm grazed in early February.

Read more

Milk replacer prices on the rise

Milk price league: rising markets lift most boats