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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2007-0206v1 86/7/1697    most recent 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 Engel, C. L. Articles by Perry, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Engel, C. L. Articles by Perry, G. A.

Effect of dried corn distillers grains plus solubles compared with soybean hulls, in late gestation heifer diets, on animal and reproductive performance¹

^* Department of Animal and Range Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007

³ Corresponding author: George.Perry{at}sdstate.edu

Dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) contain fat and rumen undegradable intake protein, both of which have been shown to increase reproductive performance in heifers. The mechanisms leading to enhanced reproduction have not been fully defined. The objectives of this research were to evaluate effects of DDGS in late gestation heifer diets on animal and reproductive performance and on blood plasma concentrations of GH, IGF-I, and NEFA. Over 2 yr, 201 heifers were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 diets, which were similar in energy and adequate in rumen degradable intake protein and were fed from d 190 of gestation through calving. Diets were grass hay with DDGS or soybean hulls (SBH) and a supplement. Cow BW and BCS were measured from the beginning of treatment through weaning. Blood samples were collected prepartum on d 71 and 69 of the feeding period and weekly after calving for 4 and 6 wk (d 84 to 105 and d 76 to 111 relative to the feeding period) during yr 1 and 2, respectively. No treatment x year interactions were detected for any of the performance, hormonal, or reproductive dependent variables. Both treatments caused positive BW changes over the feeding period, but DDGS heifers had a greater (P < 0.01) positive BW change compared with SBH heifers. Initial and final BCS and BCS change were similar (P 0.26) between DDGS and SBH treatments. Treatment did not influence (P 0.12) BW or BCS change during the postpartum period. Calving ease, calf vigor, and calf birth weight, weaning weight, and ADG (birth to weaning) were similar (P 0.41) between treatments. The proportion of cows that had initiated estrous cycles (P = 0.46) and the pregnancy distribution (P 0.21) were similar between treatments. However, a greater (P = 0.058) percentage of DDGS cows became pregnant compared with SBH cows (94 and 84%). In both years, there were no effects of treatment (P 0.17) or treatment x time (P 0.52), but time influenced (P 0.05) the concentrations of GH, IGF-I, and NEFA. Concentrations of GH were greater (P 0.05) at calving and decreased through d 4 after calving. The IGF-I concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) around calving and decreased (P < 0.05) through d 8 or 6 (yr 1 or 2) and remained similar (P > 0.10) for the duration of the sampling period. Concentrations of NEFA increased from calving through d 8 and gradually declined through d 20. Prepartum diets containing DDGS, a source of fat and UIP, benefited pregnancy rates in well-maintained, primiparous beef heifers.

Key Words: beef cattle • dried distillers grains plus solubles • fat • undegradable intake protein • reproduction

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