UNIVERSITY PARK - To meet
the goal of raising well-grown
heifers that freshen by 24 months,
a farmer cannot afford the set
backs in growth that occur when
heifers are left to fend for them
selves in far-off, forgotten
pastures, says a Penn State
assistant professor of dairy and
animal science.
All too often, summer-time
heifer management involves
merely counting the heifers once a
week to be sure they’re all there,
according to A.J. Heinrichs.
Pastures can be used very suc
cessfully for heifers provided that
they are checked daily and con
cern is given towards feed, fly
control and parasites.
Heifers less than six months of
age are usually better off to be kept
in the bam, Heinrichs says. The
digestive system of these young
calves is not fully developed to
handle high forage diets. These
animals rely on getting most of
their nutrients from grain. Also,
Heinrichs adds, young heifers tend
to suffer more from heat, com
petition from other heifers and
parasites.
Dairy heifers that are 6- to 12-
months-old can grow very suc
cessfully on pasture provided that
they are supplemented with four to
six pounds of good quality, 16 to 18
percent dairy ration throughout
the pasture season.
Heifers that are over 12 months
of age will do well on good quality
pasture alone in early summer.
However, it is important to realize
that as pasture quality declines
during mid to late summer, heifer
growth rates also decline,
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Heifer management critical when pasturing
Heinrichs says. Normal growth
rates can be maintained if hay or
silage is provided free-choice to
heifers on pasture. Also some
grain should be provided depen
ding on the quality of these sup
plemental forages.
All heifers should have adequate
shade and free access to good
quality, clean water, Heinrichs
adds. Ponds and streams which
look good in spring may become
stagnant or dried up in late
summer.
Fly and parasite problems can
also stress pastured heifers to the
extent that growth rates are
reduced, Heinrichs says. Parasite
problems are likely to occur during
Heifer management headlines twi-light meeting
GETTYSBURG Practice in “If milk replacers are fed, be
judging dairy cows, a tour of the sure they are of high quality to
bams and milking facilities and a supply adequate amounts of
review of recommended practices energy. This is especially im
for the feeding and care of dairy portant in winter,” Stoner said,
calves and heifers were features of Stoner emphasized the im
the twi-light meeting co-sponsored portance of housing calves
by the Adams County Holstein separately from adult animals and
Association and the Penn State following a regular worming
Cooperative Extension Service schedule. Treatment for coc-
June 21, at the John Hess farm, cidiosis should be included on
Gettysburg. larger farms. Bull calves should be
Outlining sound health measures separated from heifers at six
for young dairy stock, Dr. Jesso- months of age to avoid unplanned
Stoner, veterinarian from New breeding, Stoner added.
Oxford (recently re-located to the A slide-illustrated program on
Duffield area in Franklin County) “Management of Dairy Herd
warned the dairymen that nipple Replacements” was presented by
feeding frequently leads to county agent Thomas E. Piper. He
aspirating when worn nipples are reminded the dairymen that the
used. This causes pneumonia. He USDA Food Safety Inspection
urged the weaning to bucket Service on June 4, instituted two
feeling as soon as possible. new regulatory efforts affecting
a heifer’s first season on pasture.
Animals that have not previously
been exposed to parasites have
little to no resistance to digestive
tract parasites.
Parasite eggs overwinter on
pastures in the northeast. These
eggs hatch into larvae under
warm, moist conditions in spring
weather. Heifers can become
heavily parasitized by early to
mid-summer. When this occurs,
heifers grow slower because they
are less feed efficient. They also
may develop diarrhea causing
them to become anemic.
To avoid the build-up of
parasites in heifers on pasture,
Heinrich suggests rotating
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pastures and avoid overgrazing
pastures. Worming at three and six
weeks after turnout on pasture will
greatly reduce the degree of
parasitism, he adds.
Pinkeye can also be a problem to
heifers during the summer when
on pasture. Fly control is im
portant with this infection. Af
fected heifers should be brought
indoors for treatment and confined
out of direct sunlight until the
condition is cured, Heinrichs says.
Further items that are often
overlooked with heifers while on
pasture are salt and minerals.
Trace mineral salt should always
be available to heifers on pasture.
Be sure to check that selenium is
dairymen. In the first of these
dairymen should sign a producer
certification for stating that calves
to be slaughtered within the first
three weeks of age have not
received drugs. Such calves will be
sold separately from uncertified
calves. Calves without producer
certificates will be subject to a new
itensified residue-testing program.
Host farmer John Hess took the
visitors on tour of the dairy bam he
remodeled one year ago in which
he milks 24 cows in a Califomia
style flat parlor. “This unit
provides the efficiency of a Double-
Six parlor at one-fourth the cost”
Hess said.
Hess’ 140-cow herd is housed in a
free stall bam, maintained in two
production groups and fed a total
mixed ration. Special feed
ingredients include waste candy
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present in this salt. The second
item that should be available on a
free-choice basis is a calcium
phosphorus supplement (dical).
Research has shown, Heinrichs
says, that heifer diets that are low
in phosphorus, which can occur on
pasture, can delay the onset of
estrus in these animals.
Pasture, plus some good
management, can provide a low
cost labor efficient system for
handling heifers over six months of
age. Maintaining proper growth
rates throughout the entire
summer requires additional feed
and effort but will help result in
well-grown, healthy heifers
Heinrichs concludes.
and wet brewers’ grains to supply
lower cost sources of energy and
protein.
The jugging contest was of
ficiated by Billy Joe Heath,
Westminster, Md. Jenny Hess and
Carol Clowney tied as winners in
the youth division; Marvin Brown
was first, Carolyn Durboraw
second in the adult division. Vo Ag
teacher Ron Bower and 4-H leader
Alan Zepp tabulated results.
Carol Clowney, newly selected
Adams County Dairy Princess,
expressed appreciation for in
dustry support of the Dairy
Princess pageant and joined
Michael Gitt representing the
Pennfield Feed Corporation in
serving refreshments to the group.
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