The Milk Producer - August 2011 - (Page 41)

REARINGREPLACEMENTS By Bill Grexton Early calving pays off I Cost differences can be in excess of $25,000 per year for heifer programs in a 100-cow herd f you worry about calving your dairy herd’s replacements too young, your concern is likely misplaced. Analysis of actual results on working farms indicates early calving, combined with sound overall management and wise production cost decisions, can add up to $60,000 a year in overall farm profit for a 100-cow herd. Let’s compare differences among three groups of herds based on their heifers’ age at first calving and the cost to raise a heifer to calving. These numbers are drawn from CanWest DHI’s Profit Profiler program. Costs include every expense except interest, depreciation and the calf’s original value. More than 85 Canadian herds have submitted detailed production cost information in 2009 and 2010 from which to draw comparisons. This analysis looks at three groups of 20 herds each: • Group 1, lowest cost to raise a heifer; • Group 2, lowest age to calving; • Group 3, highest age to calving. Group 1 had a heifer-raising cost of $1,471 from birth to calving and calved at 25.4 months of age. Group 2 had a cost of $1,902 and calved at 24.0 months. Group 3 had a cost of $2,202 and calved at 28.2 months of age. Reviewing first-lactation production is a good way to see results of a calf rearing program. As Table 1 on page 42 shows, first-lactation production was highest in Group 2 herds, which had the lowest age at first calving. Group 1 herds, with the lowest cost, had production almost as good as that of Group 2. This result shows you can raise heifers economically, and get good results if you raise them properly. Delayed age to first calving has no advantages and hurts your bottom line. Although they would need fewer heifers for replacement purposes, Groups 1 and 2 also had more heifers available as replacements or for sale. The number of replacements needed is a function of cull rate and age at first calving. er to reach the milking line. Reduced age at first calving for Group 2 herds meant they actually spent $300 less than Group 3 to raise a heifer. Group 2 also had better first-lactation results. Also note feed costs, including the actual cost of home-grown feed, is about half the total heifer cost—between nine and 13 per cent of your milk cheque. The cost of raising a heifer for all herds—not just these select groups— MilkPRODUCER | August 2011 | 41 Compare costs carefully We need to compare costs carefully. The heifer cost per year for Groups 2 and 3, shown in Table 2, look similar. However, factor in the time for a heif-

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - August 2011

The Milk Producer - August 2011
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Applied Science
Ruminations
Rearing Replacements
Calf Health
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - August 2011