Description
Pastures under good management promote environmental, economic, and animal welfare advantages. However, comparisons of animal performance for pasture-raised dairy heifers versus confinement-raised dairy heifers are scarce. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of dairy heifers raised on pasture or in confinement. Heifers raised on pasture had similar body weight and age at calving and greater dry matter intake in the end of 2nd grazing season. Cost of heifers raised on pasture was 26.7% less in the first grazing season and 58.4% less in the second grazing season compared to heifers raised in confinement. Heifers raised on pasture had greater dry matter intake and milk yield through first lactation. Physiological adaptation and nutritional benefits are involved in those benefits through lactation. Mammary gland development before breeding and increased feed intake before calving might be the main drivers for the advantages found for heifers raised on pasture compared to heifers raised in confinement. However, further studies are needed to evaluate nutritional and physiological differences of heifers raised on pasture compared to heifers raised in confinement.
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Win-Win for Dairy Farms: Heifers Raised on Pasture Reduce Cost and Produce More Milk at First Lactation
Pastures under good management promote environmental, economic, and animal welfare advantages. However, comparisons of animal performance for pasture-raised dairy heifers versus confinement-raised dairy heifers are scarce. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of dairy heifers raised on pasture or in confinement. Heifers raised on pasture had similar body weight and age at calving and greater dry matter intake in the end of 2nd grazing season. Cost of heifers raised on pasture was 26.7% less in the first grazing season and 58.4% less in the second grazing season compared to heifers raised in confinement. Heifers raised on pasture had greater dry matter intake and milk yield through first lactation. Physiological adaptation and nutritional benefits are involved in those benefits through lactation. Mammary gland development before breeding and increased feed intake before calving might be the main drivers for the advantages found for heifers raised on pasture compared to heifers raised in confinement. However, further studies are needed to evaluate nutritional and physiological differences of heifers raised on pasture compared to heifers raised in confinement.
