Dairy Quality University

The cost of poor heifer management

by Paula Mohr

The cost of raising heifers ranks second to the cost of feed on many farms. But the real cost of rearing replacements doesn't show up until after they calve, says Glenn Shirk, Lancaster County, Pa., senior Extension agent.

To get a feel for the magnitude of heifer costs, Shirk and Jud Heinrichs of Penn State compiled a hypothetical table comparing costs, cull rates and milk production (see Table 1).

"These figures don't fit any farm," Shirk says. "They are just examples. Each producer should calculate their own figures."

Note that a $200 increase in the average cost of replacements could increase cost of milk production by 30¢/cwt. This compares to a cost-of-production increase of $1.09 if poor heifer management causes higher culling rates, lower milk output per cow and higher replacement costs. Profits that are lost because of reduced milk sales could amount to another $10,000 per year in a 100-cow herd.

Poorly grown heifers generally calve at an older age and have higher culling rates, Shirk says. Accordingly, you need more heifers around. And you need additional housing and feed. The impact of cull rate and cow turnover on herd replacement numbers can be 50% or more (see Table 2). For example, in a 100-cow herd with a 24-month calving age, a 10% cull rate for heifers and a 30% turnover rate for cows translates into 67 head needed in the heifer herd. When calving age jumps to 28 months and the cow turnover is 38%, you need 99 heifers in that replacement herd.

Impact of heifer costs, cull rates and milk production on profits
Assuming $12/cwt. milk and $7/cwt. cost in feed, vet, supplies, labor, etc.

Age at first calving (mo.)	24	24	28
% cow turnover	30	30	38
Milk shipped, cwt./cow/yr.	200	200	180
Cost per replacement	$1,100	$1,300	$1,300
Replacement cost
—per cow/yr.	$330	$390	$494
Difference		$60	$164
—per cwt./milk shipped	$1.65	$1.95	$2.74
Difference		30¢	$1.09

How many replacements needed?
Replacement herd size for a 100-cow herd with a 10% heifer cull rate

% cow turnover	Age at first calving
	22	24	26	28
30	61	67	72	78
34	69	76	82	88
38	77	84	92	99