Phase I of the 2015 Canadian National Dairy Study was a cross-sectional survey which included questions on heifer calf health and rearing practices. The objectives of this section were to describe these practices and explore factors associated with different strategies. The questionnaire was open to all dairy producers in Canada and had an 11% response rate (n = 1,157). Fifty-one percent of respondents reported never allowing heifer calves to nurse their dam; 16% always removed calves within 30 min of birth. Sixty-eight percent reported always feeding heifer calves 4 L of colostrum within 12 h of birth; 17% always fed colostrum between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Five percent pasteurized all colostrum fed on farm. Seventy-seven percent of respondents reported calving and stillbirth information for 2014; mean reported stillbirth rate was 4.9% (SD = 3.3). The majority of respondents housed calves in pens (73%), while 23% used hutches and 3% tethered calves. Pre-weaned calves were housed in groups on 37% of farms, with a mean of 8 calves per group (SD = 13). The maximum amount of milk offered to calves per day during the pre-weaned period was a mean of 8 L (SD = 3). Fifty percent of respondents reported mortality data for 2014; mean pre-weaned mortality was 6.4% (SD = 8.3), and post-weaned mortality was 2.5% (SD = 4.4). Over 95% of producers reported disbudding practices; 86% used cautery, 11% used surgical amputation, and 9% used caustic paste. Twenty-eight percent reported disbudding at less than 3 weeks of age, 61% at 3 to 8 weeks, 22% at 8 to 16 weeks, and 5% reported dehorning at more than 16 weeks of age. Sixty-eight percent of cautery users reported use of local anesthetic, 32% used sedation, and 26% used a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Multi-variable regression models showed use of local anesthetic was associated with social media activity (OR = 2.3, P < 0.001), while sedation and NSAID use were associated with geographic region and age at dehorning (P < 0.01). Exploring heifer rearing management practices, including adoption of best practices, may help focus future education and extension efforts. Poor reporting of mortality data may reflect a lack of this information being kept on farm.