Great question! No, we do not have a spreadsheet on how much to pay relative to milk price (there is no relationship as we have a record low milk price and springing heifers are over $1,400). Wisconsin workers have a budget to calculate costs to raise by three-month intervals (total of $1,300). Even at these high prices of heifers and a low milk price, a genetically solid heifer will repay culling a low-producing cow. Penn State has a spreadsheet to calculate heifer costs also. It is similar to the Wisconsin one except that it includes the costs of manure and waste management. North Carolina State Dairy Extension also has a useful spreadsheet to calcualte heifer costs. Mike Hutjens, Extension Dairy Specialist, University of Illinois - Illini DairyNET Arlyn Heinrichs, Dairy Extension, Penn State University. Hugh Chester-Jones, Dairy and Beef Specialist, U of MN

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