Lactation Induction in Holstein Heifers and Production Performance on a Dairy Farm in the Huaura Valley, Peru

Lactation induction is a management tool that allows milk production in nonpregnant heifers; however, its long-term productive outcomes remain unclear. This study evaluated the productive performance of Holstein heifers subjected to lactation induction compared to naturally lactating heifers on a dairy farm in Huaura Valley using data from 2004 to 2019. Records from 82 lactation induction and 242 natural lactation heifers were analyzed. The variables included total milk yield, lactation length, daily milk yield, 305-day adjusted milk yield, productive life P305D, and lifetime milk yield. Comparisons were made using an independent samples t-test. Heifers subjected to lactation induction reached only 76% of total milk yield, 83% of daily milk yield, 88% of 305-day adjusted milk yield, 58.6% of lactation length, 58% of productive life, and 61% of lifetime milk yield compared to naturally lactating heifers. All the differences were statistically significant (p < .001). Lactation induction resulted in significantly lower productivity than natural lactation.

Cite this article as: Vasquez, Y.H., Ameri, N.C., Vargas, G.H., Vergara, C.V. (2026). Lactation induction in Holstein heifers and production performance on a dairy farm in the Huaura Valley, Peru. Acta Veterinaria Eurasia, 52, 0242, doi: 10.5152/actavet.2026.25242.