Average daily gains of 1.3 pounds per day are too low because they add only 40 pounds per month, resulting in a post-calving weight of 950 pounds. We have records for monitoring milk weights, somatic cell counts, number of inseminations, and days open. Monitoring heifer growth and development affords us the opportunity to make changes in heifer management based on information derived from actual measurements. These charts show stages of growth and development in partitioned groups and determine either decreased skeletal development, overconditioning or underconditioning. All are good indicators of improper feeding or poor overall heifer management.
Insufficient height is generally an indication of low protein in the diet.
This usually occurs in heifers older than 7 months during summer month periods when grass pastures are of poor quality or heifers are fed low protein corn or small grain silages without protein supplementation. Overconditioning heifers may indicate excessive corn silage diets or feeding high energy rations, such as feeding refusal from the lactating cow ration. Heifers should be charted at least 5 times before they reach 2 years of age. This can be done at times of deworming, vaccinations, breeding, or pregnancy checks, so it is not an additional chore. Unfortunately, once breeding occurs and heifers are examined pregnant, they are often neglected until calving.