A Life Story
Holstein calves are born weighing a little under a hundred pounds, at any time of the year, and begin walking within a few hours.
For the next year of their life, they will grow to be about 700-900 pounds and will now be called a heifer.
It's around this time when they will become pregnant for the first time.
At age 2, they will weigh about 1,500 pounds, give birth to their first calf, and now be called a cow.
Just like people, it's not until after they have their first calf that they begin to milk.
After milking for approximately 305 days, they will go into a "dry" period while their body prepares for their next calf.
In a cow's lifetime, she will have 4-5 calves on average.
Only the female calves are raised on our farm as replacement cows. The bull calves are sold to steer producers.
For the next year of their life, they will grow to be about 700-900 pounds and will now be called a heifer.
It's around this time when they will become pregnant for the first time.
At age 2, they will weigh about 1,500 pounds, give birth to their first calf, and now be called a cow.
Just like people, it's not until after they have their first calf that they begin to milk.
After milking for approximately 305 days, they will go into a "dry" period while their body prepares for their next calf.
In a cow's lifetime, she will have 4-5 calves on average.
Only the female calves are raised on our farm as replacement cows. The bull calves are sold to steer producers.