THE NATIONAL DAIRY HEIFER EVALUATION PROJECT - A PROFILE OF HEIFER MANAGEMENT-PRACTICES IN THE UNITED-STATES

The National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project was a cooperative, USDA-s ponsored project involving state agricultural departments, the Coopera tive Extension Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. A series of retros pective and prospective descriptive surveys using a multiple list and area frame sampling technique were conducted. Information collected pe rtained primarily to dairy neonates and replacement heifers. Much of t he study was related to observational information on health and manage ment characteristics that can be related to the animals' long-term phy sical and economic performance. The data reflect herds representing 78 % of the national dairy cow population. Average herd size was 86 milki ng and dry cows and 66 heifers. Many characteristics of these herds re flect accepted and recommended practices in the area of dairy replacem ent management and nutrition. Data summarized in this national study c an be utilized to evaluate the impact of management practices on dairy operations.