The rearing period of dairy heifers from birth to first calving shapes their future welfare and productivity, with early life experiences affecting immune function, social behavior, and reproductive success throughout their productive lives.
Heifer welfare during rearing is an investment in the lifetime welfare and productivity of the future milking cow. Early social housing improves cognitive development, reduces chronic stress, and produces more adaptable cows that transition more calmly to the milking herd. Adequate nutrition in early life shapes mammary gland development that determines lifetime milk production potential. Pain management for dehorning and ear-tagging during this period is both an ethical requirement and a management practice that reduces the stress response costs of these procedures. The welfare of heifers during rearing is foundational to the welfare and productivity of the dairy herd they will enter.