Neil Broadwater, Regional Extension Educator - Dairy

March 24, 2007

What is it costing you to raise a dairy replacement?  Raising replacements adds substantially to the overall cost of producing milk for the dairy operation.  The cost of raising replacement heifers is usually considered the second highest input cost on the dairy, next to feed.  The most significant costs of raising replacements include feed, health, labor and housing.  

University of Minnesota Extension, the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) at Waseca, and the Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association are co-sponsoring a Dairy Calf Workshop, entitled, “Management Options and Costs of Raising Healthy Calves to 6 months of Age” to be held on Thursday, April 12, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the SROC.  The workshop will cover management practices to control costs of feed, health, housing and other economic related issues for calves from birth to six months of age.

In a 2005 New York study, the growth of the heifer calf from birth to 200 lbs comprised 14% of the total cost of raising that heifer (Karszes, Cornell).  This stage is not the major cost stage but what happens during this period of growth is crucial for getting that calf off to a healthy start.  The 200 to 700 lbs stage was 29% of the cost.  Heifers from 700 lbs to calving was 47% of the total cost of raising a dairy replacement (Table 1). 

 “Keeping heifers healthy, meeting growth goals without over-conditioning, lowering calving age, lowering cull rates, reducing feed costs and improving labor management are key factors for heifer enterprise management.  First and foremost, however, is being able to separate costs in order to provide a better picture of the heifer enterprise to help make good management decisions.” (Hugh Chester-Jones, Dairy Star, Sept. 2005)
Feed costs for raising heifers vary greatly from farm to farm.  Pat Hoffman, University of Wisconsin, published a study in 1999 involving 287 groups of heifers on 62 commercial dairies in Wisconsin (Table 2).  Note the minimum and maximum feed costs per day found during the study.  No, they are not based on 2007 feed prices, but it shows the wide variation in costs that occurs on farms.

By objectively looking at your heifer rearing costs, you can pinpoint high figures where adjustments to management practices need to be made.  Those who raise dairy heifer replacements should want consistent, economical, efficient and practical ways to accomplish optimum growth goals while getting those animals into the milking string as soon as possible.  The April 12th Dairy Calf Workshop will help participants sort through those significant costs that occur during the first six months of age, which can make a difference in the profitability of the heifer enterprise.

Workshop topics and presenters will include: The Economics of Feeding Milk Replacer byDr. Steve Hayes, Technical Service Manager, Milk Products, LLC; Health Issues Related to the Economics of Feeding Calvesby Dr. Howard Tyler, Associate Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University; Results of Research Conducted at SROC from 2004-2007 and What It Means to You byDr. Hugh Chester-Jones, Animal Scientist, SROC; Cost Effective Housing Options for Raising Dairy Calves and Heifers by Howard Tyler and Neil Broadwater, Regional Extension Educator-Dairy; and there will be a Producer Panel Discussion with panelists Ron Durst, Durst Bros. Dairy, Kasson, MN; and Wade Gustafson, Gustafson Dairy Heifers, Willmar, MN.  The Panel’s focus will relate to their record keeping system, how they monitor costs and other economic issues of raising dairy replacements.  There will be time for questions and interaction. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the SROC Calf and Heifer Raising facilities where a discussion will be held regarding SROC’s calf management practices and protocols.

The Dairy Calf Workshop at SROC is open to dairy producers and calf managers.  The registration fee is $40/person and $20/additional person from the same farm.  The fee includes a CD, handouts, meals and refreshments.  Advanced registration is required by Monday, April 2.  Note: This workshop will be limited to 75 participants, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For further information or to register, contact Mary Jane Stearns, Regional Extension Center, Rochester, MN; telephone 507-536-6310; e-mail: mstearns@umn.edu.  Or, download the brochure, including a complete agenda and registration form.