The welfare of dairy heifers — young cows entering their first lactation — is critical because poor transition management creates health problems that affect welfare throughout productive life.
Heifer welfare and transition management are foundational to dairy cow welfare across the productive life. Poor early nutrition, inadequate social development, and mismanaged transition create health problems that affect welfare for years. Metabolic diseases at first calving cause significant pain and welfare harm; they are largely preventable with appropriate nutrition and management. The welfare investment in well-managed heifer development pays dividends in better health, longer productive life, and reduced lifetime suffering. Farms with strong heifer programs have better welfare outcomes across their entire dairy herd.