Many dairy heifers, however, are reared on farms where no milking is done.
Some heifers become a commodity, changing hands several times before they enter a milking line.
Raising your own replacements can foster a healthy herd if you exercise discretion when adding outside animals and apply sound health practices to succeeding generations. Those who raise purchased heifers for resale must depend on the previous owners and be responsible to the subsequent owners for the health of the heifers. The health of a calf at birth is greatly influenced by the health of the dam. She must have received adequate energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and other essential nutrients during pregnancy, especially during the last 90 days. The calf's dam should be free of infectious diseases.