There are very few commercial or private nutrition companies that spend much time with heifer and calf rations. Heifer nutrition probably is the most important nutrition program on a dairy farm because it affects the future dairy herd. If heifers achieve recommended growth rates they will indeed milk better and you can show this difference. It is easy to monitor heifer performance by looking at peak milk yield and age at first calving. Heifer nutrition has not received a great deal of attention by anyone that works with the dairy farmer.
Nutrition has a direct effect on a heifers growth and future production.
Heifer nutrition cannot be overlooked if heifers are to reach their full genetic potential and maximize their profitability. Most heifer rations tend to promote short and fat heifers. In my opinion, current NRC requirements are marginal and tend to promote a short, fat heifer. If heifers grow this way, they will not produce up to their full genetic potential. Research world wide shows that heifer's that get too fat prior to puberty will produce less milk.