Farm Animals

Cattle Welfare: Heifer Development Welfare

The welfare of heifers during their development from calf to first calving shapes their lifetime health, productivity, and welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Target liveweight gain of 0.7-0.8kg per day supports appropriate development without compromising reproductive welfare
Under-nutrition during the rearing period delays puberty and increases calving difficulties
Over-conditioning of heifers increases the risk of metabolic disease at first calving
Social housing of heifers improves cognitive development and reduces stress at first housing with the dairy herd

Welfare Considerations

Heifer development welfare is a long-term investment in lifetime animal welfare. Getting nutrition, social housing, and management right during the rearing period sets the trajectory for first calving and lifetime health. Inadequate development creates welfare problems that persist throughout the animal's productive life.

What You Can Do

Support dairy producers implementing structured heifer development programmes
Advocate for heifer welfare to be assessed in dairy farm welfare certification
Engage with research on optimal heifer development strategies for welfare and lifetime performance