Nutritional aspects of developing replacement heifers 1
Studies in numerous species provide evidence that diet during development can mediate physiological changes necessary for puberty. In cattle, several studies have reported inverse correlations between postweaning growth rate and age at puberty and heifer pregnancy rates. Thus, postweaning growth rate was determined to be an important factor affecting age of puberty, which in turn influences pregnancy rates. This and other research conducted during the late 1960s through the early 1980s indicated puberty occurs at a genetically predetermined size, and only when heifers reach their target BW can increased pregnancy rates be obtained. Guidelines were established indicating replacement heifers should achieve 60 to 65% of their expected mature BW by breeding. Traditional approaches for postweaning development of replacement heifers used during the last several decades have primarily focused on feeding heifers to achieve or exceed an appropriate target BW and thereby maximize heifer pregnancy rates. Intensive heifer development systems may maximize pregnancy rates, but not necessarily optimize profit or sustainability. Since inception of target BW guidelines, subsequent research demonstrated that the growth pattern heifers experience before achieving a critical target BW could be varied. Altering rate and timing of BW gain can result in compensatory growth periods, providing an opportunity to decrease feed costs. Recent research has demonstrated that feeding replacement heifers to traditional target BW increased development costs without improving reproduction or subsequent calf production relative to development systems in which heifers were developed to lighter target BW ranging from 50 to 57% of mature BW.
Utilization of early weaning and intrafollicular insemination as methods to improve the reproductive performance of cattle
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Effects of sire, dam traits, calf traits, and environment on dystocia and subsequent reproduction of two-year-old heifers.
A study was conducted over 3 yr to evaluate effects of sire birth weight EPD, calf birth weight and shape, and heifer pelvic area and weight, individually and in combination, on dystocia and subsequent rebreeding of 2-yr-old heifers. Heifers (n = 550), MARC II yearlings, were assigned for breeding to one of four Angus sires with birth weight EPD of -.95, -82, +2.9, and +2.7 kg. At calving, heifers were assisted as needed. A gauge attached to the cal puller recorded applied traction pressure. Analysis of traction pressure detected only slightly larger amounts of variation (2 to 3%) affecting dystocia than the standard five-point scoring system. Dam weight did not affect calving difficulty score (CDS), except dam birth weights were heavier (P < .05) for CDS 5 (Caesarean section) than CDS 1 (unassisted). Dams requiring Caesarean section had smaller pelvic areas (P < .05), with no other differences among CDS. The CDS increased as calf birth weight and cal external measurements increased. Low EPD sires produced calves with smaller (P < .05) birth weights and smaller calf head and food circumferences and caused less dystocia than high EPD sires. The CDS did not affect subsequent pregnancy rates but did affect conception date of the second calf. Calves delivered by Caesarean section were lighter (P < .05) at weaning than other calves but had similar slaughter weights. As mean winter temperature increased (6.1 degrees C) from yr 1 to 3, calf birth weight decreased (4.6 kg) and calving difficulty decreased 23%. Results indicate sire birth weight EPD, calf birth weight and shape, dam pelvic area, and climate affected CDS, and CDS affected subsequent conception date.