Increased postweaning gain of beef heifers enhances fertility and milk production

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 937 - 946
• Main Authors: Buskirk, D.D. (University of Illinois, Urbana.), Faulkner, D.B, Ireland, F.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savoy, IL Am Soc Animal Sci 01-04-1995; American Society of Animal Science; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: AGE; Aging - metabolism; Aging - physiology; Animal Feed - standards; Animal productions; Animal reproduction; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; BOVIN DE BOUCHERIE; Breeding; Cattle; Cattle - growth & development; Cattle - physiology; COMPLEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; CONDICION CORPORAL; Dairy farms; DESTETE; Diet; EDAD; ETAT CORPOREL; Female; Fertility - physiology; Food, Fortified; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAIN DE POIDS; GANADO DE CARNE; GANANCIA DE PESO; GENISSE; ILLINOIS; Lactation - physiology; LAIT; LECHE; MADUREZ SEXUAL; MAIS; MAIZ; MATURITE SEXUELLE; MEDICION DEL CUERPO; MENSURATION CORPORELLE; Milk - metabolism; NOVILLA; PERFORMANCE DE REPRODUCTION; PESO AL DESTETE; POIDS AU SEVRAGE; Random Allocation; Regression Analysis; RENDEMENT LAITIER; RENDIMIENTO LECHERO; REPRODUCTIVIDAD; SEVRAGE; Sexual Maturation - physiology; SUPLEMENTOS; TEJIDO ADIPOSO; TERNERO; Terrestrial animal productions; TISSU ADIPEUX; VEAU; Vertebrates; Weaning; Weight Gain - physiology; Zea mays - standards; Lactation; Fertility; Weaning; Production; Dairy cattle; Supplemented diet; Reproductive potential; Weight gain; Milk
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/1995.734937x

Four hundred fifty-two (452) weanling heifer calves (192 +/- 23 kg) were used to determine the effect of postweaning weight gain on subsequent reproductive performance and lactation. Heifers grazed stockpiled tall fescue pastures and were fed a high (H) or low (L) amount of ground corn supplement (3.68 and 2.99 kg/[animal-d], respectively) during a postweaning treatment period of 136 d. Postweaning gain of heifers receiving L and H was 0.43 and.0.62 kg/d, respectively. These treatments resulted in a range of postweaning gain from 0.07 to 1.17 kg/d. Heifers receiving H were 26 kg heavier (P 0.01), had 0.15 cm more fat thickness (P 0.01), 5% greater pelvic area (P 0.01), and tended (P