The interplay of feeding and genetics on heifer rearing and first lactation milk yield: a review.

Abstract excerpt

Weight gain of young dairy replacement heifers, even over several months, is highly variable, lowly heritable, and a poor indicator of either weight at calving or first lactation milk yield. Voluntary forage consumption is much less variable, more heritable, and a better predictor of weight at calving and milk yield. Weight at calving is highly heritable but not correlated genetically with milk yield. Heavier...

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