Project: Improving heifer rearing regimes on farms in Northern Ireland
Project Leader: Dr Steven Morrison
Objectives
Previous research undertaken at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland demonstrated that relative to rearing heifers to calve at 620 kg at 2 years of age, heifers reared to calve at 560 kg at 2 years of age lost less condition in early lactation and as a result had better fertility. Although first lactation milk yield was less than the heavier heifers, similar milk yields were obtained in the second and subsequent lactations (Carson et al. 2002). The results from this research clearly indicated that in economic terms, rearing heifers to calve at lighter weights was more beneficial. Despite this recent benchmarking data has indicated that the findings from this research are not being widely adopted by industry with the majority of heifers being calved at 30 months of age at heavier weights. Within heifer rearing regimes more detailed information is required on the extent of calf mortality on Northern Ireland dairy farms. Ferris et al (2004) indicated that calf mortality at birth could be as high as 13% with Holstein Friesian animals, while Jenny et al (1980) quoted values up to 22%. These losses represent a major cost to the dairy industry and the extent of the problem as well as the reasons for mortality need to be established to reduce the costs of heifer rearing. The overall objectives of this research programme are to:
1. To evaluate current rearing regimes and performance of heifer on farms in Northern Ireland including incidence of disease and calf mortality.
2. To evaluate dairy producer's attitudes to scientific research and implementation of findings of research programmes
3. To establish improved heifer rearing regimes on farms in Northern Ireland based on the results of research undertaken at ARINI
4. To evaluate the effect of adopting improved heifer rearing regimes on physical and economic performance
Carson, A.F., Dawson, L.E.R., McCoy, M.A., Kilpatrick, D.J. and Gordon, F.J. (2002). Effects of rearing regime on body size, milk production and reproductive performance in high genetic merit dairy herd replacements. Animal Science 74: 553 - 565
Journal Articles
Morrison, S. J. , Wicks, H. C. F. , Carson, A. F. , Fallon, R. J. , Twigge, J. , Kilpatrick, D. J. , Watson, S. (2011). The effect of calf nutrition on the performance of dairy herd replacements. Animal, 6:909-919
Morrison, S. J. , Dawson, S. M. , Carson, A. F. (2010). The effects of mannan oligosaccharide and Streptococcus faecium addition to milk replacer on calf health and performance. Livestock Science, 131(2-3):292-296
Knowledge Transfer
Morrison, S. J. (2011). Correct weaning is vital to avoid growth checks and disuption to a calf's future development. Farmers Weekly
Morrison, S. J. , Sherrard, W. (2011). Successful dairy heifer rearing. Farming Life
Morrison, S. J. , Brown, A. (2011). Heifer Rearing Competition - Booklet. Booklet produced for farm walk at Catherwood/Rankin farm
Morrison, S. J. , Moore, R. (2011). Cost effective heifer rearing - information is key. Cow Management Magazine
Morrison, S. J. , Carson, A. F. (2010). Breeding Dairy herd replacements. United News and General farming press
Morrison, S. J. , Carson, A. F. , Matthews, D. I. , Kilpatrick, D. J. , Mulholland, M. (2010). Latest research on calf management for performance. Proceedings of AgriSearch Seminar, June 2010
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Matthews, D. I. , Mulholland, M. (2010). Overcoming the barriers to research adoption in the Northern Ireland dairy industry. Proceedings of AgriSearch Seminar, June 2010
Morrison, S. J. , Carson, A. F. , Matthews, D. I. , Kilpatrick, D. J. , Mulholland, M. (2010). Latest findings on management of dairy youngstock. Proceedings of AgriSearch Seminar, June 2010
Morrison, S. J. (2010). Rearing dairy calves at grass. Farming Press
Morrison, S. J. (2009). Automatic Weaning. Farming press
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2009). Rearing your 2010 herd - costs. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2009). Rearing your 2010 herd - Conclusions. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2009). Rearing your 2010 herd - rearing project. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2009). Rearing your 2010 herd - selecting sires. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - feeding systems. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - milk feeding and weaning. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - measure to manage. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - post wean to calving. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd. Heifer Rearing Booklet
Carson, A. F. (2008). Growing Aryshire heifers. Article prepared for Aryshire society
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - calf health. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - calf diseases. Farming Life
Morrison, S. J. , Mulholland, M. (2008). Calf rearing in NI. Article for milk buyer magazine
Morrison, S. J. (2008). Calf Rearing. General Press release
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - Transition into the dairy. Farming Life
Carson, A. F. , Morrison, S. J. , Hopps, A. R. , Mulholland, M. , Moore, R. , Gordon, F. J. (2008). Rearing your 2010 herd - True cost of rearing a dairy heifer. Farming Life
Morrison, S. J. , Carson, A. F. (2007). Targeted Growth is key to heifer rearing. Controlling costs of milk production on farm events
Morrison, S. J. (2007). Is bigger better?. Research update to publise farm events
Morrison, S. J. (2007). Preliminary Results of Heifer Survey. CAFRE Newsletter
Report
Morrison, S. J. , Carson, A. F. , Dawson, L. E. R. (2008). Heifer Weigh Band. Design and production of heifer weigh tapes.