Dairy calves are raised on milk and other feed until they are weaned at around two to four months old. After weaning, they graze in paddocks until they mature, typically mating at 15 to 18 months. Once they give birth, they join the milking herd and begin producing milk.

When a dairy cow calf is born her dam (mother) returns to the milking herd, while she is reared by the farmer on milk and other feed until weaning at between two and four months old. She is reared with other calves and they are usually kept comfortable in a shed to protect them from the weather. By the time of weaning, the calf's stomach has matured to be able to digest grass so she is moved into the paddock to graze while she grows and matures. She is typically mated at about 15 to 18 months of age, meaning she will give birth to her first calf at about two years of age.

After giving birth (calving), dairy cows join the milking herd and are milked around twice a day. Her lactation is about 10 months long and then she is 'dried off' (milking ceases) to rest for about two months before her next calving. She then continues with the milking cycle.