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Effect of Raising Dairy Heifers on Their Performance and Reproduction after 12 Months

Author

Listed:
  • Michal Uhrincat

    (National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, 951 41 Luzianky, Slovakia)

  • Jan Broucek

    (National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, 951 41 Luzianky, Slovakia)

  • Anton Hanus

    (National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, 951 41 Luzianky, Slovakia)

  • Peter Kisac

    (National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, 951 41 Luzianky, Slovakia)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that a heifer’s growth, health, and reproduction after 12 months are impacted by rearing (feeding/housing) before weaning, their season of birth, and the father’s lineage. Fifty-one Holstein heifers, born during January–March (SB1), April–June (SB2), July–September (SB3), and October–December (SB4) and originating from four fathers, were assigned to one of the three rearing treatments: restricted suckling (RS), calf in a pen with the mother until the 21st day, sucking three times daily, then group pen (6 kg milk) to weaning; unrestricted suckling (US), calf in a pen with foster cows (6 kg milk) to weaning; and conventional rearing (CR), calf in a hutch until the 56th day, then group pen to weaning (milk replacer 6 kg). After weaning on the 84th day, heifers were kept in groups with the same ration. The growth of the live body weight (LBW), health, and reproduction were recorded. The LBW had a tendency to increase from the 360th to the 570th days in the US, and the reduced growth of the LBW was shown in the CR. Heifers of SB2 had the highest LBW at 570 days of age. The ages of the first insemination service and the conception varied significantly among the rearing groups. The results indicate that a heifer rearing method may have a significant impact on their later growth and fertility.

Suggested Citation

  • Michal Uhrincat & Jan Broucek & Anton Hanus & Peter Kisac, 2021. "Effect of Raising Dairy Heifers on Their Performance and Reproduction after 12 Months," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:10:p:973-:d:651227
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leif Jarle Asheim & Julie Føske Johnsen & Øystein Havrevoll & Cecilie Marie Mejdell & Ann Margaret Grøndahl, 2016. "The economic effects of suckling and milk feeding to calves in dual purpose dairy and beef farming," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 97(4), pages 225-236, December.
    2. Leif Jarle Asheim & Julie Føske Johnsen & Øystein Havrevo & Cecilie Marie Mejdell & Ann Margaret Grøndah, 2016. "The economic effects of suckling and milk feeding to calves in dualpurpose dairy and beef farming," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, INRA Department of Economics, vol. 97(4), pages 225-236.
    3. Jan Broucek & Michal Uhrincat & Peter Kisac & Anton Hanus, 2020. "Effect of Different Rearing during the Milk-Feeding Period on Growth of Dairy Calves," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, August.
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    1. Jan Broucek & Michal Uhrincat & Peter Kisac & Anton Hanus, 2020. "Effect of Different Rearing during the Milk-Feeding Period on Growth of Dairy Calves," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, August.
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