Brad discusses new research comparing dairy heifers raised on pasture versus in confinement, focusing on studies from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Both studies found that pasture-raised heifers were slightly lighter and gained less before calving, but they reached calving at a similar age and showed advantages after freshening. Pasture-raised animals had higher dry matter intake, fewer health issues in the Minnesota study, and stronger first-lactation milk production, especially under rotational grazing systems.

Brad also highlights the economic upside: pasture systems reduced heifer feed costs and, in the Wisconsin study, improved income over feed cost during lactation. The episode makes the case that raising dairy heifers on pasture can be a practical strategy to lower rearing costs without sacrificing, and potentially improving, future milk production.
 
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