Abstract
A questionnaire was sent to 1500 randomly selected dairy herds in Sweden, asking for general information about the herds, including routines from birth to first calving and also routines at breeding, calving and during the grazing period. Fifty-eight percent of the questionnaires were returned. The preweaned calves were kept in individual calf pens in 68% and in group housing systems in 28% of the herds. Pens with slatted floors were the main housing system for replacement heifers from weaning to breeding, and tie stalls from breeding to first calving. Whole milk was used in 44% and milk replacements in 42% of the herds. The calves received, as a median, 2.5 litres of milk per meal and 2 meals per day. The median age at weaning was 8 weeks. Age was the single most common criteria used for deciding both weaning and breeding time. The median age when the heifers were first turned out to pasture was 6 months. Prophylactic anthelmintic treatment was used by 65% of the herds. The most common diet for replacement heifers before calving was a combination of grain, hay and silage.
Highlights
IntroductionIncreased knowledge about their situation is important for offering these animals rearing conditions in which they can maintain good health and adjust to milk production
In modern milk production, calves are often overlooked
In order for veterinarians and other advisors to be able to adapt their guidance to the situation on the individual farm, it is important to know which routines are used for management of replacement heifers on that farm
Summary
Increased knowledge about their situation is important for offering these animals rearing conditions in which they can maintain good health and adjust to milk production. Mourits et al (2000) estimated the optimal average age at first calving, from an economic point of view, to be 20.5 months in Holstein animals in Pennsylvania. None of these rearing aims are possible without optimal rearing conditions. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of the housing systems and the feeding and management routines used for replacement heifers in Swedish dairy herds
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