Standardized Decision-Making for the Selection of Calf and Heifer Rearing Using a Digital Evaluation System

Fredrik Regler () and Heinz Bernhardt
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Fredrik Regler: Agricultural System Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Dürnast 10, 85354 Freising, Germany
Heinz Bernhardt: Agricultural System Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Dürnast 10, 85354 Freising, Germany

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: This study addresses the challenge of subjective remounting decisions in calf and heifer rearing, typically driven by the animal caretaker’s feelings and experience, lacking a robust data foundation. Key factors such as developmental delays, diseases, or rearing problems often go unnoticed or are forgotten due to the number of animals. To address this gap, an established state-of-the-art sensor network captures behavioral data during rearing, which is supplemented by manually collected data. This facilitates a novel decision network providing well-founded recommendations to the animal owner regarding whether to retain or cull an animal. The approach focuses on four key areas: colostrum supply, milk intake, weight development, and disease history during the rearing time of each individual, offering a transparent decision path for the use of each future cow. Introducing a standardized decision-making approach, the proposed approach enables an efficient, transparent, and targeted management strategy, contributing to the sustainable enhancement of the health and performance of calves and heifers. Additionally, it allows for the comparison of the growth trajectories of different animals over time. Notably, individual and transparent decisions can be made at each growth stage, enhancing the overall decision-making process in calf and heifer rearing.

Keywords: calf rearing; animal husbandry; heifer management; standardization; farm management; advisor tool; dairy cattle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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