Dairy Replacement Programs: Costs and Analysis Western New York 1993

Abstract

As the dairy industry becomes more competitive and farms increase in size, economics of heifer management will be more of an integral component of farm profitability. The dairy replacement enterprise offers opportunities where costs can be decreased and efficiency improved. The purpose of this study was to determine the a~tual costs associated with the replacement programs on large dairy farms that have above average heifer programs. In this study eight western New York participated, averaging 354 dairy replacements per farm.