First calving performance and physiological profiles of 2-year-old beef heifers according to their pre-breeding growth

The effects of catch-up (compensatory) growth on reproductive performance of beef heifers

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas96-079 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 76 (4) ◽

pp. 523-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dinah Boadi ◽

M. A. Price

Keyword(s):

Key Words ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Compensatory Growth ◽

Reproductive Efficiency ◽

Feed Restriction ◽

Early Weaning ◽

Beef Heifers ◽

Catch Up ◽

Calving Performance

Fifty-four heifer calves were allocated to five feeding/weaning treatments at birth in April/May 1990: 1) VEW (n = 11) dams feed-restricted for 3 mo before and 2 mo after calving; calves weaned in June onto gram-supplemented pasture and then into a drylot in October; 2) EW1 (n = 10) dams not restricted; calves weaned in August (unsupplemented pasture) into drylot in October; 3) EW2 (n = 10) dams not feed-restricted; calves weaned directly into drylot in August; 4) LW1 (n = 12) dams feed restricted for 3 mo before, but not after calving; calves weaned directly into drylot in October, 5) LW2 (n = 11): dams not restricted; calves weaned directly into drylot in October. The very early (VEW) and early (EW1, EW2) weaned heifers grew significantly slower than the later-weaned ones (LW1, LW2) from birth to September, and were still significantly lighter at 12–13 mo of age (May 1991). Recovery of liveweight-for-age was achieved by EW2 heifers by 18 mo and VEW and EW1 by about 23 mo of age. Early weaning treatments delayed age but not weight at first estrus (P < 0.05) yet the number of heifers conceiving and calving, and all associated reproductive data, including rebreeding success were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.05). Despite a delay in first estrus, reproductive efficiency and calving performance were not impaired by early feed restriction in heifers conceiving at 15 mo of age. Key words: Beef heifers, feed restriction, fertility, reproduction, catch-up growth

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A survey detailing the calving performance of primiparous 2-year-old beef heifers and outcomes of assisted calving

New Zealand Veterinary Journal ◽

10.1080/00480169.2011.633878 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 35-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

RE Hickson ◽

WJ Anderson ◽

PR Kenyon ◽

N Lopez-Villalobos ◽

ST Morris

Keyword(s):

Beef Heifers ◽

Calving Performance

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A STUDY OF SOME OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING EASE OF CALVING IN RANGE BEEF HEIFERS

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas83-032 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 255-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. MAKARECHIAN ◽

R. T. BERG

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Key Words ◽

Significant Influence ◽

Threshold Effect ◽

Phenotypic Correlation ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Beef Heifers ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Condition Score ◽

Calving Performance

This study was performed in two parts. In the first part, 349 calving records of 2-yr-old heifers in 1979, 1980 and 1981 were analyzed by least-squares to assess the effects of lowering sire birth weight on calf birth weight and ease of calving. The study demonstrated that using sires with lower birth weight in 1981 compared to 1979 and 1980 (31.12 vs. 40.12 and 40.17 kg, respectively), reduced the average calf birth weight (32.65 vs. 36.04 and 34.62 kg, respectively) which in turn improved calving performance of the heifers in 1981 compared to the previous years. In the second part, 128 calving records of 2-yr-old heifers in 1981 were analyzed to study the relative importance of hip height, area of pelvic opening, condition score and weight at calving on calving performance. The results indicated that heifer weight at calving had a significant influence of calving performance (P < 0.01). Calving performance improved with increases in heifer weight at calving. Height at hip was phenotypically correlated with weight at calving, area of pelvic opening and calf birth weight. Phenotypic correlation between weight at calving and area of pelvic opening was also highly significant. The area of pelvic opening might exert a threshold effect on calving performance in 2-yr-old heifers. Key words: Cattle, dystocia, range beef heifers

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Influence of postweaning feeding management of beef heifers on performance and physiological profiles through rearing and first lactation

Domestic Animal Endocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.domaniend.2018.05.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 65 ◽

pp. 24-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

J.A. Rodríguez-Sánchez ◽

A. Sanz ◽

J. Ferrer ◽

I. Casasús

Keyword(s):

Beef Heifers ◽

Feeding Management ◽

Physiological Profiles

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Effects of Developmental Programming Caused by Maternal Nutrient Intake on Postnatal Performance of Beef Heifers and Their Calves

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9121072 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1072

Author(s):

Agustí Noya ◽

Isabel Casasús ◽

Javier Ferrer ◽

Albina Sanz

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Intake ◽

Live Weight ◽

Antral Follicle ◽

Female Offspring ◽

Antral Follicle Count ◽

Beef Heifers ◽

Maternal Undernutrition ◽

Esterified Fatty Acids ◽

Offspring Growth ◽

Physiological Profiles

In this study, we evaluated the effects of maternal subnutrition in early pregnancy on the growth and reproductive performance of female offspring during their rearing, first gestation, and lactation. We inseminated 21 Parda and 15 Pirenaica multiparous cows and assigned them to a CONTROL (100% of nutrition requirements) or SUBNUT (65%) diet until day 82 of gestation. Cows were fed 100% requirements afterward. During the rearing of female offspring, growth, physiological profiles and ovarian follicular dynamic were studied. At 16 months old, heifers were inseminated. After first calving, dam–calf weights were recorded during lactation. Heifers born from CONTROL cows were heavier at weaning (four months old) than heifers born from SUBNUT cows, but this difference disappeared at the end of rearing and during the first gestation and lactation periods. All heifers reached puberty at a similar age and live weight. During rearing, SUBNUT heifers had higher concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, urea, and cholesterol and a lower antral follicle count than CONTROL, but no difference was found in their fertility rate. After heifer first calving, dam–calf weights were similar among groups. In conclusion, maternal undernutrition reduced offspring postnatal gains at weaning, compromising metabolic status and follicle population during rearing but did not impair performance in the first gestation and lactation periods of beef heifers.

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