Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1950

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Dairy Science

Abstract

It is important in dairy cattle management to maintain steady and continuous growth of heifers and thereby secure properly developed cows which will give the production that is expected of them when they are brought into the milking herd. In general, heifer calves during the first twelve months of their growing period are carefully managed as to feed, housing and care to promote normal growth. However, they are often neglected during their yearling stage to the point where growth is retarded because of environment factors. On many dairy farms in the North Central States the management of yearling dairy heifers in open outdoor sheds during the winter months has become a somewhat common practice. It is the consensus of many dairymen that managing heifers by this method has the advantage of growing larger size animals since they consume large quantities of feed. The costs of care and housing also are important factors, since labor can be reduced materially with the employment of mechanical methods and the housing requirements are kept at a minimum. There is a lack of sufficient and conclusive data pertaining to some of the environment condition that affect growing heifers during the winter. To obtain additional information on this problem, a winter housing experiment was designed with two definite objects in mind. First: to ascertain whether dairy heifers housed in a cold barn will make as rapid growth and show as good physical condition as those housed in a warm barn, and second: to observe the feed consumption levels of the heifers housed in the two barns.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dairy cattle -- Growth.
Dairy cattle -- Feeding and feeds -- Climatic factors.
Dairy barns

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 37-38)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

43

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

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Dairy Science Commons

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