Calves and heifers · Growth
Monitoring heifer growth
Heifers that are weighed and measured are heifers that calve on time. The papers under this heading cover the practical side of the job: how a heart girth tape or a hip-width gauge compares with a scale, how to read a growth chart, and what weight and height a heifer should reach at each age if she is to calve at 22 to 24 months without carrying too much condition.
5 papers are filed under this heading. Main sources: University and extension web documents, Western Dairy Digest, Dairy Production Primer: Feeds and Feeding Management.
How to Estimate Heifer Weights
Describes two studies which compared the Hipometer, heart girth tape and scale for estimating heifer weights.
Monitoring Heifer Growth
Provides instruction on how to estimate body weight and height on growing heifers.
Measuring Growth
Describes growth measurement of calves and heifers and suggests growth targets as animals mature.
Monitoring Dairy Heifer Growth
Provides instructions on how to measure heifer growth, use and evaluate growth charts and how to body condition score heifers.
Monitoring Growth in Dairy Heifers
Stresses importance of measuring heifer growth.