calving. You can track heifer growth to make informed decisions of when to breed using simple tools, such as a weight measuring tape, height measuring stick and record-keeping. Then ask yourself, where do my heifers measure up? Heifer growth and age at first calving • Optimal age at first calving is 24 months; • Heifers are ready for breeding when they reach 55 per cent of their mature body weight, which for most animals is achieved by 14 months of age; • Weigh heifers every three months, and keep to a mini- mum of eight measurements from birth to first calving. References Duplessis, M., R.I. Cue, D.E., Santschi, D.M. Lefebvre, and R. Lacroix. 2014. J. Dairy Sci. 98:2063-2073. NRC. 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. 7th rev. ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. Accessible image descriptions Figure 1. Body weight (kg) at breeding, 24 months and mature weights for Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey and Brown Swiss breeds from dairy farms from Valacta in Quebec. Recommended weight (kg) at breeding based on 55 per cent of average mature weight of Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey and Brown Swiss breeds Bar graph showing body weight on left axis with weight in kilograms starting at 0 on the bottom and going up to 900 in 100 kilogram units. Breeds of cows are shown across the bottom with Holstein on the left, then Ayrshire, then Jersey and on the far right Brown Swiss. First bar shows recommended body weight at breeding. Second bar shows weight at breeding. Third bar shows weight at 24 months. Fourth bar shows mature weight. 52 Promotional Supplement Focus On Dairy | June/July 2024 BAYERN GENETIK CANADA 1-519-614-1699 Perfect Match Fleckvieh Specialist Longer lasting, more profitable dairy cows STABLING Contact: Michael Pyfferoen, Cell: 519-373-9494 Tel. & Fax: 519-794-3933, mpyfferoen@gmail.com 702904 Sideroad 5, Chatsworth, ON N0H1G0 � www.sgate.ca =- FOCUS ON DAIRY ENJOY MILK Ontario dairy farms produce 2.5 billion litres of milk every year. That’s enough to fill 1,000 Olympic sized swimming pools.
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