Abstract
ABSTRACTLiveweight targets in the New Zealand dairy industry aim to increase subsequent productionof heifers. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of the percentage of individual liveweight target achieved at 6, 9, 12 and 15 months of age, on heifers’ reproductive performance and on milk production in first lactation, using retrospective analysis of a cohort of replacement heifers within a New Zealand dairy herd Heifers that reached liveweight targets at 12 and 15 months of age had longer lactations and produced more milksolids than heifers that were behind target. The increase in production from increasing percentage of liveweight target was greater for heifers that were further below their target live weight. This experiment supported the need to have heifers close to liveweight target at 12 and 15 months, but there were only limited advantages of greater percentage of liveweight target achieved at 6 and 9 months of age.
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