A balanced nutrition program should consist of forage analysis and formulating the concentrate ration to supply the remaining nutrients needed for production. Give special attention to feeding cows for peak lactation production, because peak lactation production level influences consistency for the rest of the lactation period. Research suggests that the daily milk production at peak lactation multiplied by 200 will give an estimation of 305-day lactation record. For example, if a dairy cow is producing 80 pounds of milk per day at peak lactation, you can figure that she will produce 16,000 pounds in a 305-day record under normal management. When selecting cows, consider their age and stage of gestation, genetic producing ability and cost.
Bred heifers are most often free of disease, particularly mastitis.
They suffer less stress from hauling and adjust more easily to a new herd situation. Also, bred heifers have certain investment and tax advantages. However, they will produce slightly less milk during first lactation, about 80 percent of a mature cow. Purchased cows should have the potential to produce at least 15,000 pounds of 3.5 percent milk. Only DHI tested herds have this type of production information.