Eighteen Red-and-White × Holstein-Friesian heifers were assigned to two analogous groups (9 animals each), in which two different feeding levels were used from 6 to 11 (period 1) and from 12 to 13 (period 2) months of age: the control group (C) received the ration recommended by IZ-INRA standards for a daily gain of 700 g; the experimental group (E), a stair-step regimen in which the feeding level was 15% lower in period 1 and then 15% higher in period 2 compared with the control group. From 14 months of age to day 100 of lactation, all groups were fed according to IZ-INRA standards. It was found that the diverse feeding level of heifers prior to and after the pubertal period resulted in higher milk yield and secretory tissue content in the udder.