Multiparameter growth-performance monitoring of Holstein dairy heifers fed on moderate- or high-energy feeding plans from birth to puberty.

Today, dairy cattle farmers are seeking to optimize expenditure and productivity throughout the lives of their animals by focusing on efficiency at all levels. One strategy for bringing forward the start of a dairy cow's profitability phase is to advance the onset of puberty and reduce the animal's age at their first calving. Thus, one objective of this study was to feed two groups of Holstein dairy heifers the same diet but in different quantities, with the aim of generating a growth differential of at least 200 g/day between the two groups.