The effect of growth and development in Holstein heifers on economically important traits was detected. The milk yield of first-calvers increased as the average daily live weight gain in the rearing period increased. For cows in their second and third lactation the opposite tendency was recorded. The total production decreased with a higher growth rate of heifers. The increased average daily live weight gain was subsequently associated with reduced reproduction efficiency in cows. The differences between the groups with the lowest and the highest average live weight gains in the number of days open in the first and second calving interval were 26.78 and 17.47 days, respectively. This tendency was also confirmed in the other reproduction traits analysed. Productive life was significantly longer in animals with the lowest intensity of growth and development.