juniorGrowth – Nutrition

The importance of good nutrition is high. Research shows that an increase in dry-matter uptake by 1 kg at weaning, results in 286.7 kilograms higher milk production in the first lactation. And the age at which the calves ingest more than 900 grams of nutrition is also associated with total lifetime production in litres and concentrations (Boulton et al. 2015). To check whether the calves and heifers are growing well, we recommend regularly weighing the animals, or measuring their chest size and crotch height if necessary. By comparing this with growth and height curves, you can assess to what degree rearing is going according to plan, and whether or not any changes need to be made to the nutrition.

The list below contains a number of key figures that should be aimed for during the rearing period (deboerenveearts.nl).

Weight at insemination 380 kg
Age of insemination 13 months
Weight at calving 600 kg
Weight around weaning 80–90 kg