HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lemenager, R. P. Articles by Hodges, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lemenager, R. P. Articles by Hodges, J. R.

Effects of Winter and Summer Energy Levels on Heifer Growth and Reproductive Performance^{1 ,2,}

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Abstract

Three heifer development trials were conducted with 337 crossbred heifers (125, 105 and 107 heifers in trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively) over a 3-year period. Heifers were fed low quality fescue hay ad libitum plus 0, 1.22 or 2.45 kg of ground ear corn (GEC) daily during the winter feeding phase of all three trials. Winter gains and final winter and summer condition scores increased (P<.05) in each trial as winter level of GEC increased. In each trial, summer gains followed the reverse order of winter gains (P<.05). Conception rate, mean number of days pregnant (as determined by rectal palpation) and adjusted weaning weight of progeny increased linearly with winter level of GEC when pooled over trials. Differences between animals fed 0 and 2.45 kg of GEC were significant. Conception rate and adjusted weaning weight of progeny of the heifers retained in the breeding herd increased (P<.05) as level of GEC increased when data were pooled over trials. Calving date and percentage live progeny were not significantly affected by winter treatment. Summer daily gains and condition scores were increased by additional summer energy (2.45 kg GEC/day) in trial 3. Conception rate and mean number of days pregnant (conception date) favored heifers given the summer supplementary feeding (2.45 kg GEC) treatment. Among heifers retained in the breeding herd, there were no significant differences between the 0- and 2.45-kg GEC summer treatment groups in conception rate, calving date, percentage live progeny or adjusted weaning weight of progeny.

¹ Journal paper no. 7830, Purdue Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta., Dept. of Anim. Sci.

² Appreciation is extended to Mr. Ralph Duffy and Dr. T. S. Stewart for their assistance in programming and computer analysis.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁴ Present address: Texas A&M Univ. Agr. Res. and Ext. Center, Drawer E, Overton 75684.

⁵ Superintendent, Feldun-Purdue Agr. Center, Bedford, IN 47421.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Martin, K. W. Creighton, J. A. Musgrave, T. J. Klopfenstein, R. T. Clark, D. C. Adams, and R. N. Funston Effect of prebreeding body weight or progestin exposure before breeding on beef heifer performance through the second breeding season J Anim Sci, February 1, 2008; 86(2): 451 - 459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]