Journal of Animal Science, Vol 73, Issue 4 937-946, Copyright © 1995 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Increased postweaning gain of beef heifers enhances fertility and milk production

D. D. Buskirk, D. B. Faulkner and F. A. Ireland
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA.

Four hundred fifty-two (452) weanling heifer calves (192 +/- 23 kg) were used to determine the effect of postweaning weight gain on subsequent reproductive performance and lactation. Heifers grazed stockpiled tall fescue pastures and were fed a high (H) or low (L) amount of ground corn supplement (3.68 and 2.99 kg/[animal.d], respectively) during a postweaning treatment period of 136 d. Postweaning gain of heifers receiving L and H was .43 and .62 kg/d, respectively. These treatments resulted in a range of postweaning gain from .07 to 1.17 kg/d. Heifers receiving H were 26 kg heavier (P < .01), had .15 cm more fat thickness (P < .01), 5% greater pelvic area (P < .01), and tended (P = .08) to have greater hip height than heifers receiving L at yearling. More heifers in the H group were pubertal before the start of the breeding season (70.9 vs 61.3%) (P < .05). No significant differences were found in pregnancy rate or first-service calving rate between treatment groups. Mean milk production was 10% greater for H- than for L-fed heifers (P < .01) and resulted in heavier calves at 54, 104, and 153 d of age (P < .05). Regression analysis revealed that as weaning weight and postweaning gain increased, so did the probability for reaching puberty before the breeding season. Increasing weaning weight also increased the probability of calving to the first AI service. As heifer weaning weight and postweaning gain increased, subsequent milk production also increased. Increasing postweaning weight gain of lightweight heifers from .07 to 1.17 kg/d increased both reproductive and lactation performance.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. L. Gasser, E. J. Behlke, D. E. Grum, and M. L. Day Effect of timing of feeding a high-concentrate diet on growth and attainment of puberty in early-weaned heifers J Anim Sci, November 1, 2006; 84(11): 3118 - 3122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Gasser, D. E. Grum, M. L. Mussard, F. L. Fluharty, J. E. Kinder, and M. L. Day Induction of precocious puberty in heifers I: Enhanced secretion of luteinizing hormone J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 2035 - 2041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Gasser, C. R. Burke, M. L. Mussard, E. J. Behlke, D. E. Grum, J. E. Kinder, and M. L. Day Induction of precocious puberty in heifers II: Advanced ovarian follicular development J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 2042 - 2049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Gasser, G. A. Bridges, M. L. Mussard, D. E. Grum, J. E. Kinder, and M. L. Day Induction of precocious puberty in heifers III: Hastened reduction of estradiol negative feedback on secretion of luteinizing hormone J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 2050 - 2056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. F. Baker and M. E. Boyd Evaluation of age of dam effects on maternal performance of multilactation daughters from high- and low-milk EPD sires at three locations in the southern United States J Anim Sci, July 1, 2003; 81(7): 1693 - 1699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. F. Baker, M. E. Boyd, A. H. Brown, D. E. Franke, and C. E. Thompson Evaluation of maternal performance of daughters from high and low milk EPD sires J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1406 - 1413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]