Journal of Animal Science, Vol 68, Issue 9 2622-2627, Copyright © 1990 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Influence of nutritional restriction during late gestation on production measures and passive immunity in beef cattle

R. L. Hough, F. D. McCarthy, H. D. Kent, D. E. Eversole and M. L. Wahlberg
Dept. of Anim. Sci., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061.

A 2-yr study was conducted to examine the effects of nutritional restriction of beef cows during the last 90 d of gestation on neonatal immunity and production. Cows were fed corn silage, soybean meal diets; dietary treatments consisted of 1) control (CO), 100% of the NRC (1984) requirements for protein and energy, or 2) restricted (RS), 57% of the NRC requirements for energy and protein. All cows received adequate amounts of this diet postpartum. Each year, 26 Angus cows were grouped by age and weight:height ratio (WT:HT) and allotted randomly to treatments. Calves born to dams within each nutritional treatment group were allotted to one of two colostral treatments: 1) colostrum from their dam, or 2) colostrum from a cow from the other nutritional treatment group. Calves from restricted dams had higher cortisol (33.8 vs 26.1 ng/ml) and lower triiodothyronine (T3) (3.82 vs 4.01 ng/ml) concentrations (P less than .05). Maternal nutrition did not affect either colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration (43.0 vs 39.5 mg/ml for RS and CO, respectively) or the calves' serum IgG concentration (19.06 vs 20.17 mg/ml IgG at 24 h for RS and CO, respectively). Yet, calves fed colostrum from restricted cows tended to have lower serum IgG concentration (17.2 vs 22.0 mg/ml IgG at 24 h).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Meyer, M. S. Kerley, R. L. Kallenbach, and T. L. Perkins Comparison of Grazing Stockpiled Tall Fescue Versus Feeding Hay With or Without Supplementation for Gestating and Lactating Beef Cows During Winter Professional Animal Scientist, August 1, 2009; 25(4): 449 - 458. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. J. Swanson, C. J. Hammer, J. S. Luther, D. B. Carlson, J. B. Taylor, D. A. Redmer, T. L. Neville, J. J. Reed, L. P. Reynolds, J. S. Caton, et al. Effects of gestational plane of nutrition and selenium supplementation on mammary development and colostrum quality in pregnant ewe lambs J Anim Sci, September 1, 2008; 86(9): 2415 - 2423. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Martin, K. A. Vonnahme, D. C. Adams, G. P. Lardy, and R. N. Funston Effects of dam nutrition on growth and reproductive performance of heifer calves J Anim Sci, March 1, 2007; 85(3): 841 - 847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, W. T. Small, E. L. Belden, S. I. Paisley, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess Immune response and serum immunoglobulin G concentrations in beef calves suckling cows of differing body condition score at parturition and supplemented with high-linoleate or high-oleate safflower seeds J Anim Sci, April 1, 2006; 84(4): 997 - 1003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, R. L. Atkinson, V. Nayigihugu, S. I. Paisley, D. C. Rule, G. E. Moss, T. J. Robinson, and B. W. Hess Body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat effects on cow and calf performance J Anim Sci, December 1, 2005; 83(12): 2908 - 2917. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]