Evaluation of prior grazing experience on reproductive performance in beef heifers

Perry, George A.; Perry, B.L.; Walker, Julie; Wright, Cody; Salverson, R. R.; Patterson, Hubert H.

doi:10.15232/s1080-7446(15)30290-4

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Differences in BCS between the CON-H and SUPP-H may be attributed to heifers being naive to grazing. Pervious work has noted that heifers developed in a drylot and subsequently turned out to pasture exhibited reduced ADG during the first 27 d ( Perry et al, 2013 ) and increased activity level during the first 3 d compared with their range developed counterparts ( Perry et al, 2015 ). In the current study, the 0.2 BCS difference between SUPP-H and CON-H being statistically different can be attributed to a small standard error and is likely not biologically different.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two-yr-old lactating cows represent the greatest reproductive risk in the beef herd, therefore, the percentage of cows that successfully rebreed is dramatically reduced if management steps are not taken to mitigate these effects ( Banta et al, 2005 ). Additionally, transitioning heifers from the drylot to a grazing setting following AI has resulted in reduced reproductive success ( Perry et al, 2013 ) which has been attributed to their lack of grazing experience ( Perry et al, 2013 ) and increased activity level ( Perry et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of corn supplementation and age on performance and reproduction of beef females grazing lush spring pasture

Henley

Meteer

Chapple

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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This study evaluated how corn supplementation and age of female affected body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy rate, and blood metabolites (nonesterified fatty acid [NEFA], β-hydroxybutyrate [BHBA], and blood urea nitrogen [BUN]) when grazing lush spring pasture. Angus and Angus × Simmental beef females (n = 361) were blocked by location, stratified by BW and BCS, and then were assigned to groups (n = 8 groups/treatment combination; 9–14 females/group). The study utilized a stratified, randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The four treatment combinations were: yearling heifers receiving no supplement (CON-H); yearling heifers receiving supplement of dry-rolled corn (SUPP-H; 1.81 kg as-fed/heifer/d) for 42 d; 2-yr-old lactating cow-calf pairs receiving no supplement (CON-C); and 2-yr-old lactating cow-calf pairs receiving supplement of dry-rolled corn (SUPP-C; 1.81 kg as-fed/cow/d) for 42 d. Supplementation began at AI (end of April) when cows began grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea schreb)-red clover (Trifolium pratense) pastures. Pasture forage was collected weekly for analysis. Throughout the study, forage crude protein decreased (P < 0.01) over time, but acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber, dry matter, forage height, and forage mass all increased (P < 0.01) over time. Females receiving SUPP tended (P = 0.10) to have greater BW and greater BW change over the supplementation period. Supplementation × age effects for BCS were detected (P = 0.04); SUPP-H had greater BCS than all other treatment combinations at d 42. Cow BHBA was greater (P < 0.01) compared with heifers. Female NEFA increased (P < 0.01) from d 12 to 42. Control females had greater (P = 0.02) serum NEFA concentrations compared with SUPP females. Control females had greater (P = 0.03) BUN concentrations compared with SUPP females. Cow BUN was greater (P < 0.01) than heifer BUN. Supplementation effects were not detected (P ≥ 0.25) for AI or overall pregnancy rate. In conclusion, there were no supplementation × age interactions excluding d 42 BCS. Supplementation regardless of female age tended to improve d 42 BW and BW change. Cow BHBA and BUN was greater compared with the heifers, whereas the supplemented females had decreased NEFA and BUN. Cows tended to have greater AI pregnancy rates than heifers, but supplementation did not affect AI or overall pregnancy rates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of corn supplementation and age on performance and reproduction of beef females grazing lush spring pasture

Henley

Meteer

Chapple

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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“…By design, the drylot phase cost was higher, because the plane of nutrition was kept high to maintain adequate growth and to support embryonic survival. Embryonic survival, whether post artificial insemination or natural breeding, can be impaired when the plane of nutrition declines immediately following breeding when heifers are moved from a high drylot plane of nutrition to a lower plane of nutrition ( Perry et al, 2013 ). Evidence that embryonic survival can be impaired when the plane of nutrition declines has been reported by Perry et al (2009) , Arias et al (2012) , and Kruse et al (2013) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Heifer Frame Score on Growth, Fertility, and Economics

Şentürklü

Landblom

Perry

et al. 2014

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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A non-traditional forage-based protocol was employed to evaluate replacement heifer growth, fertility, and economics between small frame (SF, 3.50; n = 50) and large frame (LF, 5.56; n = 50) heifers using three increasing gain growth phases. Preceding an 85 d growing-breeding period (Phase 3; P3) the heifers were managed as a common group for Phases 1 and 2 (P1 and P2). During P1, heifers grazed common fields of unharvested corn and corn residue (total digestible nutrients [TDN] 56%) with supplemental hay. For P2, heifers grazed early spring crested wheatgrass pasture (CWG; TDN 62%) that was followed by the final P3 drylot growing and breeding period (TDN 68%). Small frame heifers were lighter at the end of P1 in May and at the start of P3 breeding in August (p = 0.0002). Percent of mature body weight (BW) at the end of P1 (209 d) was 48.7% and 46.8%, respectively, for the SF and LF heifers and the percent pubertal was lower for SF than for LF heifers (18.0% vs 40.0%; p = 0.02). At breeding initiation (P3), the percentage of mature BW was 57.8 and 57.2 and the percentage pubertal was 90.0 and 96.0 (p = 0.07) for the SF and LF heifers, respectively; a 5-fold increase for SF heifers. Breeding cycle pregnancy on days 21, 42, and 63, and total percent pregnant did not differ (p>0.10). In drylot, SF heifer dry matter intake (DMI) was 20.1% less (p = 0.001) and feed cost/d was 20.3% lower (p = 0.001), but feed cost/kg of gain did not differ between SF and LF heifers (p = 0.41). Economically important live animal measurements for muscling were measured in May and at the end of the study in October. SF heifers had greater L. dorsi muscle area per unit of BW than LF heifers (p = 0.03). Small frame heifer value was lower at weaning (p = 0.005) and the non-pregnant ending heifer value was lower for SF heifers than for the LF heifers (p = 0.005). However, the total development cost was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.001) and the net cost per pregnant heifer, after accounting for the sale of non-pregnant heifers, was lower for SF heifers (p = 0.004). These data suggest that high breeding efficiency can be attained among March-April born SF and LF virgin heifers when transitioned to a more favorable May-June calving period through the strategic use of grazed and harvested forages resulting in a lower net cost per pregnant SF heifer.

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“…Factors impacting reproductive success in these animals may be related to the lack of grazing skills and dietary habits reducing grazing effectiveness in drylot developed heifers returned to native pasture grazing (Perry et al, 2016). Decreases in ADG for drylot developed heifers being returned to native range in several studies (Perry et al, 2013;Summers et al, 2014) compared to range developed heifers would support this hypothesis. Perry et al (2016) investigated the influence of postbreeding management on native range developed heifers.…”

Section: Managing Heifers Postbreedingmentioning

confidence: 95%

BEEF SPECIES-RUMINANT NUTRITION CACTUS BEEF SYMPOSIUM: Influence of management decisions during heifer development on enhancing reproductive success and cow longevity1

Summers¹,

Rosasco

Scholljegerdes

2018

Journal of Animal Science

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Profitability of beef cattle producers can be directly tied to the productive lifespan of a cow. Management decisions influencing heifer nutrition and reproduction play a key role in establishing heifer fertility and longevity. Altering feeding strategies to utilize compensatory growth has been reported to have a positive influence on fertility during the first breeding season; however, there are discrepancies in the literature as to the impact this strategy may have on the proportion of heifers attaining puberty prior to entering their first breeding season. Ultimately, this may affect lifetime productivity as heifers born early in the calving season produce more kilograms of weaned calf over their first 6 calves, as well as, remain in the herd longer than those animals born later in the calving season. Thus, incorporation of reproductive technologies to identify fertile animals or aid in improving conception earlier in the breeding season may improve heifer reproductive performance and longevity. Reproductive tract scores have been utilized to identify animals which are more reproductively mature, increasing the likelihood of successful artificial insemination. Antral follicle counts (AFC), which predict the number of follicles in the ovarian reserve, have not only been reported to have a moderate to high heritability, but have also been used to identify animals with greater reproductive potential. Beef heifers classified as high AFC have greater pregnancy rates and longevity than low AFC heifers. Additionally, maternal diet may play a role in influencing reproductive success and ultimately cow longevity. Improving maternal plane of nutrition has been reported to increase female offspring pregnancy rates. Overall, recent research has provided producers with a variety of methods to optimize animal performance while enhancing reproductive success and longevity to ensure profitability.

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Evaluation of prior grazing experience on reproductive performance in beef heifers

Cited by 15 publications

References 14 publications

Effects of corn supplementation and age on performance and reproduction of beef females grazing lush spring pasture

Effects of corn supplementation and age on performance and reproduction of beef females grazing lush spring pasture

Effect of Heifer Frame Score on Growth, Fertility, and Economics

BEEF SPECIES-RUMINANT NUTRITION CACTUS BEEF SYMPOSIUM: Influence of management decisions during heifer development on enhancing reproductive success and cow longevity1

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