In a previous study from 2014 it was found that US Holstein cows that gave birth to heifer calves produced more milk than cows having bull calves. We wanted to assess whether this is also true for Danish cattle. Data from 578 Danish Holstein herds were analysed with a mixed effect model and contrary to the findings in the US, we found that cows produced higher volumes of milk if they had a bull...

BACKGROUND Cholesterol deficiency (CD), a newly identified autosomal recessive genetic defect in Holstein cattle, is associated with clinical signs of diarrhea, failure to thrive, and hypocholesterolemia. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The objective is to describe the clinicopathological phenotype of affected Holstein cattle homozygous for the causative apolipoprotein B gene (APOB) mutation. ANIMALS...

Records of gestation length (71,461) for Simmental cattle were distributed with mean 284.3 d and standard deviation 5.52 d. Gestation length was found to increase with percent Simmental and was 1.9 d longer for calves born to mature dams than for those born to heifer dams. Bull calves experienced gestation lengths 1.5 d longer than heifer calves. Sire, maternal grandsire, residual and total var...

The nycterohemeral pattern of eating and ruminating behavior was examined in six heifers given ad libitum access to a corn silage-based diet with or without 100 mg monensin.hd1.d1 in a two-period crossover design. Rhythm components (no. of cycles/24 h) were characterized by the finite Fourier transform of 24-h mastication activities series measured over 7 d. Analysis of variance of the daily me...

We estimated heritability for subsequent rebreeding (SR) of heifers and genetic correlations between this trait and weaning weight (WW), weight gain from weaning to yearling (WG), age at first calving (AFC), and mature cow weight (MW), in order to evaluate whether SR could be included as selection criterion in Nellore cattle. The SR of heifers was defined by attributing a value of 1 (success) o...

A non-traditional forage-based protocol was employed to evaluate replacement heifer growth, fertility, and economics between small frame (SF, 3.50; n = 50) and large frame (LF, 5.56; n = 50) heifers using three increasing gain growth phases. Preceding an 85 d growing-breeding period (Phase 3; P3) the heifers were managed as a common group for Phases 1 and 2 (P1 and P2). During P1, heifers graze...

Postweaning heifer development systems were evaluated at 2 locations in a 4-yr study for their effect on performance and subsequent adaptation to grazing corn residue as a pregnant heifer. In Exp. 1, heifers were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to graze winter range (WR) or graze winter range and corn residue (CR). In Exp. 2, heifers were assigned to graze winter range and corn residue (CR)...

Heifer development depends on nutritional management decisions throughout all growing phases. Optimizing costs to raise heifers improves profitability of dairy farms. Feed costs for heifers make up 50% of heifer costs. Required growth rates depend on the desired age at first calving and estimated mature body weight. Intensive milk feeding improves calf growth and subsequent milk production. Pre...

The purpose of the heifer herd is to provide replacements for cows leaving the herd and to improve genetic progress. First-lactation cows significantly contribute to herd production and profit. A recommended goal for dairy replacement heifers is to calve at 24 months of age with a targeted postcalving body weight of 1250 pounds. A common misconception is that this goal is either unattainable or...