Sahar, Mohammad W. M.S., Purdue University, December 2014. Growth of PostWeaned Grazing Dairy Heifers when Evaluating the Effects of Providing Shade or Parasite Control. Major Professor: Tamilee Nennich. Reduced heat stress and lower gastrointestinal parasite loads can increase growth rate in heifers, potentially reducing the age at first breeding and lowering the costs associated with raising ...

The goal with sexed semen is to produce a calf of a specific sex. Sexed semen is widely available now and many dairy producers are using it to obtain more (and better) heifer calves. Because of its higher cost per dose of semen, combined with a reduced conception risk, sexed semen is primarily recommended for use in virgin heifers. The use of sexed semen varies widely among dairy producers. Som...

The phosphorus requirements for dairy heifers (0.20-0.35%) and endogenous concentrations (0.20-35%) of P in feeds fed to dairy heifers are similar, suggesting that the need for supplemental P in dairy heifer diets may be minimal. Because long-term P feeding studies on dairy heifers are unavailable, 183 Holstein heifers and 182 backcross Holstein × Jersey heifers were offered diets with (SP=0.40...

Seroprevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection was studied in replacement dairy heifers. Blood samples were collected from 80 pregnant heifers raised in 8 dairy farms in Saraburi province, the central part of Thailand and serum samples were tested for antibodies against BLV infection using commercially available ELISA test kits. The results revealed that 26 (32.5%) pregnant heifers wer...

In a national survey of US dairy operations, 1685 dairy operations reported 47,057 new dairy heifers (either births or acquisitions) and 4427 deaths (9.4%) of preweaned dairy heifer calves over a 3 month period. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify management practices associated with high mortality among preweaned heifers in dairy operations where at least three dairy heifer calve...

The goals of a dairy replacement management program are to rear heifers at a low economic and environmental cost without compromising future lactation performance. To meet these objectives, increased sophistication dairy heifer nutrition programs may be required. Research evaluating more sophisticated dairy heifer nutrition programs however does not always result in a relevant field application...

• a). By far the most common group is comprised of dairy cows, and occasionally beef cows, with hypocalcaemia. b). In beef heifers, most commonly Herefords, and occasionally in dairy heifers. Usually there is some evidence of at least minor dystocia. The soft tissues appear to have been stretched beyond their limits of immediate and adequate recovery. There is often, but not always, some loss o...

Lactating dairy cows have unique reproductive responses compared to when they were heifers that result in distinctly different reproductive measurements and pregnancy outcomes that can be partially overcome with pharmacological strategies. These parameters include circulating progesterone and estradiol concentrations, ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum diameter, incidence of anovulation and d...

Problem statement: Imported Holstein Friesian dairy cattle are exposed to hot arid climate in feedlot management in Kuwait. Desert climate is extreme reaching high 45-50°C in summer and low -4oC in winter at day and night respectively. High calf mortality, poor reproduction and milk yields were main constraints to viable dairying. The objectives of this study were to assess the magnitude of cal...

Studies were conducted to determine the relationship between allometric measures of growth of Holstein dairy heifers and placing in the show ring, and to compare differences in growth between Holstein heifers that are shown and not shown. In the first study, 494 Holstein show heifers were evaluated at the 2012 and 2013 Georgia Junior National Livestock Shows. Measurements were obtained for weig...