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DairyTalk 452: Earlier Calving, Lower First-Lactation Yield: When the Economics Still Work - by Helmut Demmelhuber
This podcast episode examines a scientific meta-analysis on age at first calving and its implications for modern dairy production systems. Across 16 prospective studies, researchers identified a clear trade-off: heifers calving earlier produced less milk, fat, and protein during their first lactation, yet showed no negative effects on fertility, survival, calving difficulty, or later-lactation performance. The analysis raises a central management question for dairy farms: how far can rearing periods be shortened without compromising long-term efficiency? The featured article also challenges…
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