Joe Armstrong, DVM, shared various factors dairy producers must consider when deciding on who will raise their replacement heifers. Karen Bohnert shares excerpts from a recent podcast discussing economies, biosecurity, risks and available space.
Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 12, 2023. Link.
. . . it costs on average $2,000 to raise a heifer calf before she hits the milking string . . . some farms can do that cheaper and some more expensive, but producers must be honest about what the total picture looks like.” – Joe Armstrong, DVM
INSIGHTS: Veterinary teams can use this article and podcast to educate dairy producers, as well as discuss replacement heifer strategies with producer clients.