Age at first calving in dairy cows: which months do you aim for to maximise productivity?

  • Mike Steele Inspire Cattle Solutions

Published:

2020-03-19

Share
Open Access Logo

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v5i1.248

Abstract

PICO question

In dairy cattle, which months should producers target age at first calving in order to maximise milk yield, minimize risk of non-voluntary culling and optimize fertility?

 

Clinical bottom line

Category of research question

Risk

The number and type of study designs reviewed

Seventeen papers were critically reviewed: 15 sets of case series, one review of case series and cohort studies and one randomised control trial, summarising over 2.4 million individual cow records

Strength of evidence

Strong

Outcomes reported

An optimum range of age at first calving (AFC) on dairy farms appears to be 22–25 months inclusive. Lower or higher than this figure can bring lower first lactation 305 day and lifetime milk yields, lower fertility and lower chances of surviving to a second lactation. Achieving an AFC of 22–25 months can bring the highest economic return to dairies

Conclusion

Age at first calving is a useful and key performance parameter to measure in dairy cattle. Achieving a range of 22–25 months at first calving can help to optimise both long term milk yield, fertility and longevity within the herd

 

How to apply this evidence in practice

The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.

Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.

 

Open Access Peer Reviewed

Author Biography

Mike Steele, Inspire Cattle Solutions

Mike is an independent dairy consultant to the dairy industry. His company, Inspire Cattle Solutions serves to increase in-depth knowledge of dairy farming practices and provide improvement projects on farms, in research and development and in education.

References

Adamczyk, K., Makulska, J., Jagusiak, W. & Węglarz, A. 2017. Associations between strain, herd size, age at first calving, culling reason and lifetime performance characteristics in Holstein-Friesian cows. Animal 11 (2): 327–334. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731116001348

Banos, G., Brotherstone, S. & Coffey, M.P. 2007. Prenatal maternal effects on body condition score, female fertility, and milk yield of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 90 (7): 3490–3499. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2006-809

Berry, D.P. & Cromie, A.R. 2009. Associations between age at first calving and subsequent performance in Irish spring calving Holstein–Friesian dairy cows. Livestock Science 123 (1): 44–54. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2008.10.005

Bond, G.B., von Keyserlingk, M.A., Chapinal, N., Pajor, E.A. & Weary, D.M. 2015. Among farm variation in heifer BW gains. Animal 9 (11): 1884–1887. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S175173111500097X

Changhee, D., Nidarshani, W., Kwanghyun, C., Yunho, C., Taejeong, C., Byungho, P. & Donghee, L. 2013. The Effect of Age at First Calving and Calving Interval on Productive Life and Lifetime Profit in Korean Holstein. Asian Autralasian Journal of Animal Science 26 (11): 1511–1517. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2013.13105

Chester-Jones, H., Heins, B.J., Ziegler, D., Schimek, D., Schuling, S., Ziegler, B., de Ondarza, B., Sniffen, C.J. & Broadwater, N. 2017. Relationships between early-life growth, intake, and birth season with first-lactation performance of Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 100 (5): 3697–3704. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12229

Davis Rincker, L.E., Vandehaar, M.J., Wolf, C.A., Liesman, J.S., Chapin, L.T. & Weber Nielsen, M.S. 2011. Effect of intensified feeding of heifer calves on growth, pubertal age, calving age, milk yield, and economics. Journal of Dairy Science 94 (7): 3554–3567. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3923

Eastham, N.T., Coates, A., Cripps, P., Richardson, H., Smith, R. & Oikonomou, G. 2018. Associations between age at first calving and subsequent lactation performance in UK Holstein and Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. PlosOne 13 (6): e0197764. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197764

Elahi Torshizi, M. 2016. Effects of season and age at first calving on genetic and phenotypic characteristics of lactation curve parameters in Holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science and Technology 58 (8): doi: 10.1186/s40781-016-0089-1. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40781-016-0089-1

Ettema, J.F. & Santos, J.E. 2004. Impact of age at calving on lactation, reproduction, health, and income in first-parity Holsteins on commercial farms. Journal of Dairy Science 87 (8): 2730–2742. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73400-1

Haworth, G.M., Tranter, W.P., Chuck, J.N., Cheng, Z. & Wathes, D.C. 2008. Relationships between age at first calving and first lactation milk yield, and lifetime productivity and longevity in dairy cows. Veterinary Record 162 (20): 643–647. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.162.20.643

Krpalkova, L., Cabrera, V.E., Kvapilik, J., Burdych, J. & Crump, P. 2014. Associations between age at first calving, rearing average daily weight gain, herd milk yield and dairy herd production, reproduction, and profitability. Journal of Dairy Science 97 (10): 6573–6582. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-7497

MacDonald, K.A., Penno, J.W., Bryant, A.M. & Roche, J.R. 2005. Effect of feeding level pre- and post-puberty and body weight at first calving on growth, milk production, and fertility in grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 88 (9): 3363–3375. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(05)73020-4

Nilforooshan, M.A. & Edriss, M.A. 2004. Effect of age at first calving on some productive and longevity traits in Iranian Holsteins of the Isfahan province. Journal of Dairy Science 87 (7): 2130–2135. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)70032-6

Pirlo, G., Miglior, F. & Speroni, M. 2011. Effect of age at first calving on production traits and on difference between milk yield returns and rearing costs in Italian Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 83 (3): 603–608. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)74919-8

Ruiz-Sanchez, R., Blake, R.W., Castro-Gamez, H.M.A., Sanchez, F., Montaldo, H.H. & Castillo-Juarez, H. 2007. Changes in the Association Between Milk Yield and Age at First Calving in Holstein Cows with Herd Environment Level for Milk Yield. Journal of Dairy Science 90: 4830–4837. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0156

Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi, A., Moradi-Shahrbabak, M., Nejati-Javaremi, A., Miraei-Ashtiani, S.R. & Amer, P.R. 2012. Breeding objectives for Holstein dairy cattle in Iran. Journal of Dairy Science 95: 3406–3418. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4573

Storli, K.S., Klemetsdal, G., Volden, H. & Salte, R. 2017. The relationship between Norwegian Red heifer growth and their first-lactation test-day milk yield: A field study. Journal of Dairy Science 100 (9): 7602–7612. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12018

Wathes, D.C., Pollot, G.E., Johnson, K.F., Richardson, H. & Cooke, J.S. 2014. Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle. Animal 8 (1): 91–104. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114000755

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2020): The first issue of 2020

Section: Knowledge Summaries

Categories :  Small Animal  /  Dogs  /  Cats  /  Rabbits  /  Production Animal  /  Cattle  /  Sheep  /  Pig  /  Equine  /  Exotics  /