The early life experiences of dairy heifers significantly affect their health, development, and welfare outcomes throughout their adult productive life.
The rearing period for dairy heifers — the months between birth and first calving — represents a critical welfare window with lifelong consequences. Heifers that receive inadequate early nutrition, inadequate social contact, or that experience significant disease or painful procedures without adequate pain management may show effects in adult health, productivity, and behaviour. The conventional approach to heifer rearing has often prioritised cost minimisation at the expense of developmental welfare investments that would repay through better adult performance. Social housing, adequate early nutrition, gradual weaning, and proactive health management during the rearing period are welfare-positive investments with measurable returns in adult cow health and longevity. Making the case that heifer welfare and farm performance are aligned is key to driving change.