Some dairy cow terminology

• A young female before she has had a calf of her own is called a heifer. They usually calve for the first time around two years old. They are considered cows after they reach three years old.  
• A young female that has had only one calf is occasionally called a first-calf heifer. 
• A springer is a cow or heifer close to calving
• We also call them close ups and start feeding them a grain mix similar to what they will get when they calve to help them through the transition