LIMITED NURSING EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF PRIMIPAROUS AND MULTIPAROUS COWS AND PREWEANING CALF PERFORMANCE

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. HILL ◽  
R. A. GODKE

Effects of limited nursing and parity of the dam on cow reproductive and calf gain performance were determined in two experiments involving 97 beef cow-calf pairs. Fall-calving (exp. 1) and spring-calving (exp. 2) primiparous (P) and multiparous (M) cows were assigned to control (C) or limited nursing (L) treatments at 21–28 d postpartum. Cows and calves continued on nursing treatments until first estrus was detected, or until 42 d had elapsed. Nursing treatment and parity of the dam influenced estrous activity in exp. 1. Higher (P < 0.05) percentages of multiparous dams and of L treatment cows were observed in estrus during the treatment period. A 5.6-d reduction (P < 0.10) in postpartum interval to first estrus (PPI) was observed for L cows observed in estrus during treatment periods, and a 16.2-d reduction (P < 0.01) occurred for L cows when all cows observed in estrus during or after the nursing treatment periods were compared to control cows in exp. 1. In exp. 2, nursing treatment and parity of the dam did not significantly affect PPI. Nursing treatments did not affect pregnancy rates in exp. 1, but M cows had higher (P < 0.01) pregnancy rates than P cows. Average daily gains (ADG) were lower (P < 0.10, exp. 1; P < 0.01, exp. 2) for L calves compared with C calves during treatment periods. The L calves did not overcome ADG reductions suffered while on the L treatment by weaning time, and 205-d adjusted weights of L calves were 25 kg lower (P < 0.05) than C calves in exp. 1. Potential improvement in reproductive efficiency resulting from limited nursing must be evaluated with regard to reduced preweaning calf performance. Key words: Cattle (beef), postpartum interval, estrus, once-daily nursing, weaning weight, first estrus

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 821-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. ROSECRANS ◽  
W. A. NIPPER ◽  
W. D. HOHENBOKEN ◽  
D. W. WEBER

The effects of twin-foster calf rearing on calf weight at 200, 291 and 365 days postcalving, on calf weight produced per cow, and on reproductive performance of cows were evaluated using fall-born calves. Eleven Holstein × Angus or Holstein × Hereford 2- or 3-yr-old cows rearing 20 Holstein or Limousin crossbred calves were compared with cows of similar age and breeding rearing 13 single-suckled Limousin crossbred calves. Twin calves were significantly lighter than single calves, but calf production per cow at 200 days postcalving was increased 39% by twin fostering. At 291 and 365 days postcalving, production per cow from twin fostering was 50% and 55% greater than that from single-suckled cows whose calves were weaned at 291 days. Twin fostering did not depress reproductive performance of the cows. However, supplemental feed costs and labor required at fostering were considered to restrict applicability of this management practice. Weaning at 9 mo as opposed to 200 days of age increased calf production per single-suckled cow without a substantial increase in costs. Key words: Cow-calf, twin foster, single-suckled, fall calving


Author(s):  
Parker A Henley ◽  
Frank A Ireland ◽  
Igor F Canisso ◽  
J Lannett Edwards ◽  
Daniel W Shike

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of heifer development system on body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), fescue toxicosis symptoms, reproductive performance, and subsequent calf growth of fall-calving beef heifers. Angus × Simmental heifers [n = 399; 240 ± 20.0 kg initial BW; age = 252 ± 20 d] were stratified by BW and BCS and assigned to 1 of 12 groups in each of the 2 production years. The study utilized a stratified randomized design. Pens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments: drylot (DL) development (fed ad-libitum diet consisting of 90% hay and 10% DDGS on a dry matter basis), grazing endophyte-infected fescue supplemented daily (2.3 kg as-fed/heifer/d; 50:50 mix of soybean hulls and DDGS; E+/S), grazing endophyte-infected fescue and supplemented from the midpoint of treatment period until breeding (4.5 kg as-fed/heifer/d; 50:50 mix of soybean hulls and DDGS; E+/LS), and grazing novel endophyte-infected fescue with no supplement (NE+/NS). Treatments ceased on d 168 [time of artificial insemination (AI)] and heifers were commingled and managed as a group through second breeding season. Heifers in DL had greatest (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS from d 28 until d 254. Furthermore, E+/S heifers had greater (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS than both E+/LS and NE+/NS from d 28 until d 168. On d 56 and 84, E+/LS heifers had lower (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS compared to NE+/NS, but on d 148 treatments reranked and E+/LS remained at a greater (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS compared to NE+/NS through the first breeding season. Drylot heifers had greatest (P ≤ 0.05) percentage cycling and percentage of mature BW at AI (66.6%) and had greater (P ≤ 0.05) AI and overall pregnancy rates compared to E+/LS and NE+/NS. The E+/S (55%) and E+/LS (53.7%) heifers were developed to a greater (P &lt; 0.01) percentage of mature BW than NE+/NS (49.3%). A greater (P ≤ 0.02) percentage of DL and E+/S heifers were pregnant at the end of the first breeding season (89.3 and 85.1%; respectively) compared to NE+/NS (61.5%). In summary, DL heifers had the greatest BW and BCS at AI, percentage cycling, and AI pregnancy rate. However, this strategy did not result in differing overall pregnancy rates between DL, E+/S, and E+/LS and there were no differences in milk production, rebreeding reproductive performance, and calf performance between all treatments. Finally, the poorest AI and overall pregnancy rates of the NE+/NS heifers suggests this is not a viable development strategy for fall-born heifers.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 589-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Kirkwood ◽  
P. A. Thacker

One hundred gilts and one hundred mixed-parity sows of Yorkshire and Landrace breeding were inseminated with semen with or without an additional 10 μg estradiol-17β. Pregnancy rates of gilts receiving estradiol-supplemented and control semen were 90 and 79%, respectively (P < 0.09). The estradiol supplementation of semen did not improve the pregnancy rates or litter size in sows. Key words: Swine, artificial insemination, estradiol


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Thacker ◽  
A. D. Gooneratne ◽  
R. N. Kirkwood

Pregnancy rates and litter sizes following insemination of sows with fresh-extended and frozen-thawed semen averaged 71 vs. 53% and 10.6 vs. 4.4, respectively, and was not affected by the addition of 12.5 μg relaxin to semen. These results indicate no relaxin mediated effect on either pregnancy rate or litter size when sows are artificially inseminated with relaxin-supplemented semen. Key words: Artificial insemination, relaxin, sows


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 145-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Alamaary ◽  
F. Al-Sobayil ◽  
A. Ali

Summary Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of the Arab mares in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: Managers of 26 studfarms containing 1014 Arab mares at five districts were asked to complete a questionnaire on the reproductive efficiency of their mares. Results: The mean age at first mating was 3.06 ± 0.5 years. Mares were mated equally in winter and all over the year. Natural mating was mostly used (76.9%). The means of estrus duration and estrus interval were 6.58 ± 1 days and 19.57 ± 1.8 days, respectively. The means of first service and overall pregnancy rates and the number of cycles/pregnancy were 52.71 ± 20.2%, 83.72 ± 15.0%, and 1.46 ± 0.3, respectively, with no effect of the postpartum interval, district, or season. The average pregnancy duration was 335.5 ± 10.2 days. It was shorter in mares mated by day 9 postpartum than in those mated later (p < 0.05). The ratio of stallion/mares ranged from 1:4 to 1:24, with no correlation with the pregnancy rates or the number of cycles/pregnancy. Discussion: Photoperiodic regulation and changes in the hypothalamichypophyseal axis of mares are usually associated with the seasonal reproductive activity of mares in the temperate but not in subtropical areas. Short duration of gestation for mares mated by day 9 after foaling may be related to the nutritional status of dams. Conclusion: The obtained data represent the first record of the reproductive performance of Arab mares in the KSA, which could be used to anticipate their performance under different managements. Clinical relevance: The Arab mares in the KSA are not seasonal and can reproduce efficiently all over the year. District and season did not influence the fertility.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinah Boadi ◽  
M. A. Price

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


2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 931 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Quintans ◽  
G. Banchero ◽  
M. Carriquiry ◽  
C. López-Mazz ◽  
F. Baldi

Nutrition and suckling are largely recognised as the most important factors affecting the postpartum period and consequently the reproductive efficiency of beef cattle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of body condition score (BCS) and suckling restriction with and without the presence of the calf on milk production, reproductive efficiency and calf performance. Sixty-three crossbred (Angus × Hereford) multiparous cows were managed to maintain different BCS at calving and thereafter (low vs moderate; L, n = 31 and M, n = 32). Within each group of BCS (L and M) at week 9 postpartum (66 ± 0.88 days postpartum) cows were assigned to three suckling treatments (ST): (i) suckling ad libitum (S, n = 20); (ii) calves fitted with nose plates during 14 days remaining with their dams (NP, n = 22); and (iii) calves were completely removed from their dams for 14 days, and thereafter returned (CR, n = 21). Milk production was assessed by milking procedure at Day 65 (the day before onset of ST) and every 20–22 days until the end of the experiment. Cows were bled via jugular venipuncture every 28 days from Day –98 (Day 0 = calving) until Day 66. From Day 66 cows were bled every 7 days until the end of the mating period (Day 128). Concentrations of progesterone, non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate acid and insulin were measured. Presence of corpus luteum (CL) was recorded and maximum follicle diameter was measured in all cows from the onset of the ST (Day 66) and during the following 4 weeks (until Day 94) in a weekly frequency. At Day 94, more cows (P < 0.001) in NP and in CR had CL compared with S cows (68, 57 and 21% for NP, CR and S, respectively). At that time, more cows in M-BCS presented CL than cows in L-BCS (77 vs 25; P < 0.0001). Within M-BCS, there were no differences in milk production between ST groups, while L-BCS cows with NP or CR produced less milk than S cows. Calf liveweight at weaning was 159.3 ± 3.1, 150.1 ± 2.9 and 147.0 ± 3.1 kg for S, NP and CR, respectively (P < 0.001). Suckling restriction with and without the presence of the calf had similar effects on reproductive performance, milk production and calf growth, while BCS interacted with ST to influence milk production. These results indicate that temporary suckling restriction could be an excellent management tool to increase reproductive performance of cows in moderate condition.


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. GILES ◽  
L. H. THOMPSON ◽  
S. ARKINS ◽  
T. CAMACHO ◽  
P. A. EICHEN

In two different experiments crossbred gilts and(or) sows were used to investigate the effects of uterine exposure (prior to breeding) to nonviable semen (NS), seminal plasma (SP) or egg albumen (EA) on reproductive performance. Treatment solutions were infused via the cervix at estrus in gilts or within 2 d post-partum in sows. Females were artificially inseminated at the subsequent estrus. In the first experiment pregnancy rates for gilts infused with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) as controls, NS or EA and subsequently inseminated, were 76, 85 and 54%, respectively, and were not significantly different among treatment groups. The number of total embryos (adjusted for number of corpora lutea) present at 38 d postinsemination was 9.6, 9.0 and 9.6, respectively, for BTS, ND and EA infused gilts and was not significantly different. Likewise, the number of live and dead embryos was not different among treatments. In the second experiment, the proportions of inseminated sows infused with BTS, NS or SP that subsequently farrowed were 87, 84 and 92%, respectively, and did not differ significantly among treatments. No significant differences were detected for the number of total, live or dead pigs born per litter among treatments. We conclude that uterine exposure to seminal proteins or egg albumen prior to breeding does not alter reproductive performance in gilts by 38 d of gestation. Also, the infusion of seminal proteins in sows shortly after parturition does not affect pregnancy rates or litter size at the subsequent farrowing. Key words: Reproductive efficiency, litter size, swine, artificial insemination


Author(s):  
I.A. Wright ◽  
A.J.F. Russel ◽  
T.K. Whyte ◽  
A.J. McBean

Compared with other species of farm livestock the reproductive performance of beef cows is poor. Mating and calving periods are frequently extended to avoid having a large proportion of barren Cows. vs. For example the ‘average’ MLC recorded herd has a calving period of over 4months. This makes management of beef cow herds difficult and has a deleterious effect on biological efficiency and profitability.One of the major limitations to improvement of reproductive efficiency in beef cattle is the extended post-partum anoestrus. Beef cows have longer post-partum anoestrous periods than dairy cows. In one study of three different herds (Peters and Riley, 1982) the mean length of the anovulatory period ranged from 24 to 88 days.


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