Rearing Dairy Heifer Replacements
AFBI – CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey
A detailed farmer survey on replacement heifer rearing practices was completed on over 250 dairy farms in N. Ireland in 2008. The aim of the survey was to assess heifer rearing management practices and to establish priorities for technology transfer. The survey was jointly conducted with AFBI, Hillsborough
designing the survey questionnaire and the farmer interviews conducted by CAFRE Dairying Development Advisers. Areas of management being assessed included: calf rearing, breeding management, health and welfare and attitudes to research and technology transfer. A summary of the results is available through the link below.
designing the survey questionnaire and the farmer interviews conducted by CAFRE Dairying Development Advisers. Areas of management being assessed included: calf rearing, breeding management, health and welfare and attitudes to research and technology transfer. A summary of the results is available through the link below.Heifer Survey Results (pdf file of powerpoint presentation 1.31 MB)
Carson, A.F., Morrison, S.J., Munoz, C., Matthews, D.I. and Mulholland, M. (2010). Harnessing scientific developments in practice. Annual Meeting of BSAS, Belfast, pp 348, April 2010.
Carson, A.F., Morrison, S.J., Munoz, C., Matthews, D.I. and Mulholland, M. (2010). Harnessing scientific developments in practice. Annual Meeting of BSAS, Belfast, pp 348, April 2010.
Attitudes to technology transfer by Northern Ireland dairy farmers
The results from the AFBI-CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey demonstrate how producers learn of new research findings and the variation with regard to the importance farmers place on factors when considering the adoption of new research ideas.
Morrison, S.J., Carson, A.F., Mulholland, M. and Matthews, D. 2009. Attitudes to technology transfer by Northern Ireland dairy farmers. Proceedings of the Agricultural Research Forum, pp 69
The results from the AFBI-CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey demonstrate how producers learn of new research findings and the variation with regard to the importance farmers place on factors when considering the adoption of new research ideas.
Morrison, S.J., Carson, A.F., Mulholland, M. and Matthews, D. 2009. Attitudes to technology transfer by Northern Ireland dairy farmers. Proceedings of the Agricultural Research Forum, pp 69
Calf rearing practices on dairy farms in Northern Ireland
These results of the AFBI-CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey demonstrate that a wide range of practices have been adopted for rearing dairy calves in Northern Ireland. Increasing herd size was associated with a number of rearing practices that potentially reduce labour requirements. However results indicate considerable opportunity exists for improved efficiency highlighted by 28% of producers weaning calves at greater than eight weeks.
Morrison, S.J., Carson, A.F., Matthews D. and Mulholland M. 2009. An investigation of calf rearing practices on dairy farms in Northern Ireland. Proceedings of the annual meeting of the British Society of Animal Science, pp 84
These results of the AFBI-CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey demonstrate that a wide range of practices have been adopted for rearing dairy calves in Northern Ireland. Increasing herd size was associated with a number of rearing practices that potentially reduce labour requirements. However results indicate considerable opportunity exists for improved efficiency highlighted by 28% of producers weaning calves at greater than eight weeks.
Morrison, S.J., Carson, A.F., Matthews D. and Mulholland M. 2009. An investigation of calf rearing practices on dairy farms in Northern Ireland. Proceedings of the annual meeting of the British Society of Animal Science, pp 84
Rearing your 2010 herd (PDF 2.53 MB)
The results of the AFBI-CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey and replacement heifer rearing management guidelines based on research findings at AFBI and other research centres have been compiled into a summary booklet entitled Rearing your 2010 herd”. This booklet was made available to farmers attending a series of open days on farms across N. Ireland in autumn 2008. Farmers who participated in the heifer rearing survey were also sent a complimentary copy of the booklet.
The results of the AFBI-CAFRE Heifer Rearing Survey and replacement heifer rearing management guidelines based on research findings at AFBI and other research centres have been compiled into a summary booklet entitled Rearing your 2010 herd”. This booklet was made available to farmers attending a series of open days on farms across N. Ireland in autumn 2008. Farmers who participated in the heifer rearing survey were also sent a complimentary copy of the booklet.
Heifer Liveweight Measuring Tape
The feeding and management of Holstein-Friesian heifers should be geared around achieving a live weight at first calving of 540-580 kg at 23-25 months of age. Monitoring heifer growth by measuring heifers is key to making informed management decisions. AFBI, Hillsborough over the last 10 years have collected a comprehensive dataset on body size measurements during each stage of the rearing period. This has enabled the development of simple and easy assessment of live weight through measurement of heart girth diameter. Measuring tapes scaled with the live weight of Holstein Friesian heifers have been produced for farmers to monitor heifer growth against targets at key management periods, facilitating a cost effective rearing regime.
The feeding and management of Holstein-Friesian heifers should be geared around achieving a live weight at first calving of 540-580 kg at 23-25 months of age. Monitoring heifer growth by measuring heifers is key to making informed management decisions. AFBI, Hillsborough over the last 10 years have collected a comprehensive dataset on body size measurements during each stage of the rearing period. This has enabled the development of simple and easy assessment of live weight through measurement of heart girth diameter. Measuring tapes scaled with the live weight of Holstein Friesian heifers have been produced for farmers to monitor heifer growth against targets at key management periods, facilitating a cost effective rearing regime.
Profitable Milk Production - Heifer Rearing System (completed project)
The Dairy Heifer 2000 project at Greenmount Campus is managed in partnership with J. Bibby Agriculture. The project aims to demonstrate heifer rearing skills using the heifers born within the Campus dairy herds. The project commenced in September 1997 and is expected to run for five years. The project aims to demonstrate a cost effective rearing system for high production dairy heifer replacements by managing heifers to achieve the following targets
