No abstract

an increased postweaning plane of nutrition (85 vs. 70% of concentrate dry total mixed ration) advanced reproductive development through greater endometrial thickness and follicular growth in the prepubertal phase and increased the population of antral follicles in the postpubertal estrous cycle.

Increasing the preweaning plane from 5 to 10 L/d of whole milk increased serum leptin concentrations at wk 1, 3, and 5 and LH pulse amplitude, peak, and duration at wk 15. Increasing the postweaning plane from 70 to 85% of concentrate resulted in greater circulating leptin concentrations, which may be linked to an earlier onset of puberty.