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Managing Dairy Heifer Growth Investment

Author

Listed:
  • Wolf, Christopher A.
  • Hadrich, Joleen C.
  • Vandehaar, M.J.

Abstract

Accelerated prepubertal growth rates can lower heifer raising costs but may put heifers at risk for impaired mammary development and have been found to be detrimental decreased to milk production in the first lactation. The tradeoff between heifer raising costs and milk production loss is examined in a capital budgeting model. Monthly annuity net present value of a heifer investment through the first lactation is assessed for heifers calving at 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 months of age. A 24 mo AFC base case strategy with 9009.5 kg subsequent first lactation milk yields $7.34 in returns per month. Accelerated growth resulted in higher returns ($12.77/mo for 20 mo AFC; $9.86/mo for 22 mo AFC) when milk production is not affected as total raising costs decline relative to the base case. Slower growth resulted in lower returns ($5.12/mo for 26 mo AFC; $3.15/mo for 28 mo AFC). When milk production declines, revenues decline as do feed and marketing costs which are a function of milk produced. Adjusting for factors, breakeven milk production losses were 10.6 % for 20 mo AFC and 5.3 % for 22 mo AFC relative to the 24 mo AFC base. These results were not sensitive to the assumed discount rate, heifer feed costs or discount rate. Other operation-specific heifer management factors including calving season, reproduction, herd size/expansion considerations and, in the longer-term, heifer facilities investments may be more significant economically than the differences found in this analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolf, Christopher A. & Hadrich, Joleen C. & Vandehaar, M.J., 2006. "Managing Dairy Heifer Growth Investment," Staff Paper Series 7429, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:midasp:7429
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.7429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harsh, Stephen B. & Wolf, Christopher A. & Wittenberg, Eric, 2001. "Profitability And Production Efficiency Of The Crop And Livestock Enterprises Of Michigan Dairy Operations: 1998 Summary And Analysis," Staff Paper Series 11616, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
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      Keywords

      Livestock Production/Industries;

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