The Effects of Accelerated Growth Rates and Estrogen Implants in Prepubertal Holstein Heifers on Estimates of Mammary Development and Subsequent Reproduction and Milk Production

Lammers, B.P.; Heinrichs, A.J.; Kensinger, R.S.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(99)75406-8

Cited by 63 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…As reviewed by Velasquez et al (2008), changes in IGF-1 concentrations before puberty are strongly influenced by nutritional regime and are reduced by dietary restrictions, which also delayed puberty. The circulating concentration of IGF-1 is highly correlated to BW and growth rate during the period of pre-pubertal growth (Lammers et al, 1999;Brickell et al, 2009a). In contrast, Garcia et al (2003) found that IGF-1 levels in beef heifers declined in the 10 weeks preceding puberty.…”

Section: Timing Of Pubertymentioning

confidence: 92%

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Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Wathes

Pollott

Johnson

et al. 2014

Animal

141

116

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The rearing period has a key influence on the later performance of cattle, affecting future fertility and longevity. Producers usually aim to breed replacement heifers by 15 months to calve at 24 months. An age at first calving (AFC) close to 2 years (23 to 25 months) is optimum for economic performance as it minimises the non-productive period and maintains a seasonal calving pattern. This is rarely achieved in either dairy or beef herds, with average AFC for dairy herds usually between 26 and 30 months. Maintaining a low AFC requires good heifer management with adequate growth to ensure an appropriate BW and frame size at calving. Puberty should occur at least 6 weeks before the target breeding age to enable animals to undergo oestrous cycles before mating. Cattle reach puberty at a fairly consistent, but breed-dependent, proportion of mature BW. Heifer fertility is a critical component of AFC. In US Holsteins the conception rate peaked at 57% at 15 to 16 months, declining in older heifers. Wide variations in growth rates on the same farm often lead to some animals having delayed first breeding and/or conception. Oestrous synchronisation regimes and sexed semen can both be used but unless heifers have been previously well-managed the success rates may be unacceptably low. Altering the nutritional input above or below those needed for maintenance at any stage from birth to first calving clearly alters the average daily gain (ADG) in weight. In general an ADG of around 0.75 kg/day seems optimal for dairy heifers, with lower rates delaying puberty and AFC. There is some scope to vary ADG at different ages providing animals reach an adequate size by calving. Major periods of nutritional deficiency and/or severe calfhood disease will, however, compromise development with long-term adverse consequences. Infectious disease can also cause pregnancy loss/abortion. First lactation milk yield may be slightly lower in younger calving cows but lifetime production is higher as such animals usually have good fertility and survive longer. There is now extensive evidence that as long as the AFC is > 23 months then future performance is not adversely influenced. On the other hand, delayed first calving > 30 months is associated with poor survival. Underfeeding of young heifers reduces their milk production potential and is a greater problem than overfeeding. Farmers are more likely to meet the optimum AFC target of 23 to 25 months if they monitor growth rates and adjust feed accordingly.

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Section: Timing Of Pubertymentioning

confidence: 92%

“…For example, a high energy and protein intake resulted in an increased growth rate and earlier attainment of puberty (Lammers et al, 1999). The review by Gasser (2013) concluded that the growth rate pre-weaning was more important than that post-weaning.…”

Section: Timing Of Pubertymentioning

confidence: 99%

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Wathes

Pollott

Johnson

et al. 2014

Animal

141

116

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Specifically, these problems arise because corn silage is energy dense, and often exceeds the energy requirements for dairy heifers, thereby resulting in excessive weight gains and overconditioning. Previous work has shown that elevated prepubertal ADG has a negative effect on mammary development (Sejrsen et al, 1982), and first-lactation milk yield (Van Amburgh et al, 1998;Lammers et al, 1999;Radcliff et al, 2000). In addition, Hoffman et al (1996) demonstrated that excessive postpubertal growth coupled with early calving also resulted in depressed first-lactation performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Using eastern gamagrass to construct diets that limit intake and caloric density for dairy replacement heifers

Coblentz

Hoffman

Esser³

2012

Journal of Dairy Science

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Esser, N. M.; and Bertram, M. G., "Using eastern gamagrass to construct diets that limit intake and caloric density for dairy replacement heifers" (2012 ABSTRACTPrevious research has shown that eastern gamagrass (EGG; Tripsacum dactyloides L.) will survive winter climatic conditions common throughout central Wisconsin, and will produce yields of dry matter (DM) ranging approximately from 7,000 to 10,000 kg/ha annually when managed with a 1-cut harvest system. The objective of this research was to determine whether the fibrous nature of this perennial warm-season grass could be effective in reducing the caloric density and DMI of corn silage/alfalfa haylage diets for replacement dairy heifers. A total of 120 Holstein dairy heifers were blocked by body weight (heavy, 424 ± 15.9 kg; medium, 369 ± 11.8 kg; light, 324 ± 22.4 kg), and then assigned to 15 individual pens containing 8 heifers each. Eastern gamagrass forage was harvested, ensiled, and subsequently incorporated into blended corn silage/ alfalfa haylage diets at rates of 0, 9.1, 18.3, or 27.4% of the total dietary DM (EGG0, EGG9, EGG18, and EGG27, respectively). These diets were offered during a 105-d evaluation period for ad libitum intake; however, the EGG0 diet also was offered on a limit-fed basis (LF), which was set at 85% of the voluntary intake of EGG0. Serial additions of EGG increased concentrations of neutral detergent fiber in blended diets from 39.6 (EGG0) to 48.7% (EGG27), and simultaneously reduced corresponding estimates of total digestible nutrients (TDN) from 68.2 to 61.3%, and net energy for gain from 1.07 to 0.83 Mcal/kg. Dry matter intakes for all diets offered ad libitum were greater than observed for LF (9.06 vs. 8.07 kg/d); however, DM intakes for diets containing EGG were reduced relative to EGG0 (9.40 vs. 8.94 kg/d). Similarly, intakes of TDN were greater for diets offered for ad libitum intake than for LF (5.84 vs. 5.50 kg/d); however, inclusion of EGG reduced TDN intakes relative to EGG0 (6.41 vs. 5.65 kg/d). This reduction was explained by both linear and quadratic effects of the inclusion rate of EGG in the diet. Over the 105-d trial, total weight gains ranged from 89 kg (0.85 kg/d) for heifers offered EGG27 up to 114 kg (1.09 kg/d) for those offered EGG0. Performance was similar between heifers offered EGG27 and LF diets (0.85 vs. 0.88 kg/d). Eastern gamagrass haylage proved to be a completely nonsortable additive within corn silage/alfalfa haylage diets. It also was effective in limiting the caloric density and DM intake of these diets, as well as undesirable weight gains by dairy heifers.

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“…It also increases fat deposition in the mammary gland in heifers (Capuco et al, 1995;Charles et al, 1999) and in ewes (Johnsson et al, 1986; -E-mail: Lacassep@agr.gc.ca Peclaris et al, 1994Peclaris et al, , 1997Villeneuve et al, 2010). Restricted feeding in the prepubertal period improves milk production in the first lactation in dairy heifers (Foldager and Sejrsen, 1991;Peri et al, 1993;Hohenboken et al, 1995;Van Amburgh et al, 1998;Lammers et al, 1999;Radcliff et al, 2000) and in dairy ewes (Zidi et al, 2005). Umberger et al (1985) and McCann et al (1989) observed that restricted feeding also improved the milk production of meat type breeds (Dorset and Suffolk).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of restricted feeding of prepubertal ewe lambs on reproduction and lactation performances over two breeding seasons

Villeneuve

Cinq-Mars

Lacasse

2010

Animal

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The aim of this study was to determine the effects of restricted feeding before puberty on reproduction, lactation and offspring growth performance in replacement ewe lambs over two breeding seasons. At weaning, 41 Dorset ewe lambs were assigned to one of three diets: an ad libitum control diet with medium-quality forage (MQF; 13.3% crude protein (CP), 1.81 Mcal metabolizable energy per kg, 42.8% ADF; diet A-MQF); a restricted diet with the same forage as A but less feed concentrate (diet R-MQF); or a high-quality forage (HQF) diet (14.8% CP, 2.15 Mcal ME/kg, 34.7% ADF; diet F-HQF). The quantity of concentrate offered to the group R-MQF and F-HQF ewe lambs was adjusted to obtain 70% of the control ewe lambs' growth rate. The diets were offered for 75 days following weaning to cover the allometric phase of mammary gland development. Prepubertal restriction did not affect (P . 0.10) the gestation rate, number of lambs born or the body weight and body condition score of ewes at lambing or at the end of lactation. Ewes from groups R-MQF and F-HQF tended to produce more milk during their first lactation compared to those from group A-MQF (P 5 0.07). During the second lactation, groups R-MQF and F-HQF had better standardized milk production than group A-MQF (P , 0.05), and group R-MQF produced more milk than group F-HQF (P , 0.05). Milk fat and protein content were not affected by treatments (P . 0.10) Fat and protein yield were affected by treatments only at the second lactation (P , 0.10 and P , 0.05, respectively). Lamb birth and weaning weights were not affected by prepubertal restriction of feeding in their mother (P . 0.10). However, the average daily gain of second breeding season lambs was higher for the R-MQF group than the F-HQF group (P , 0.05), and a similar trend was observed for total gain (P , 0.10). Restricted feeding before puberty does not impair future reproductive performance; however, it has a positive impact on lactation and on lambs' growth performance.

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The Effects of Accelerated Growth Rates and Estrogen Implants in Prepubertal Holstein Heifers on Estimates of Mammary Development and Subsequent Reproduction and Milk Production

Cited by 63 publications

References 34 publications

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Using eastern gamagrass to construct diets that limit intake and caloric density for dairy replacement heifers

Effects of restricted feeding of prepubertal ewe lambs on reproduction and lactation performances over two breeding seasons

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