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1 University of Nebraska West Central Research & Extension Center, North Platte, NE 69101
2 Dept. of Animal and Range Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58105
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rfunston2{at}unl.edu.
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Abstract |
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A 3-yr study was conducted with heifers (n = 170) whose dams were used in a 2 x 2 factorial to determine effects of late gestation (LG) or early lactation (EL) dam nutrition on subsequent heifer growth and reproduction. In LG, cows received 0.45 kg/d of 42% CP supplement (PS) or no supplement (NS) while grazing dormant Sandhills range. During EL, cows from each late gestational treatment were fed cool-season grass hay or grazed sub-irrigated meadow. Cows were managed as a single herd the remainder of the year. Birth date and birth weight of heifer calves were not affected (P > 0.10) by dam nutrition. Meadow grazing and PS increased (P = 0.02; P = 0.07) heifer 205-d BW versus feeding hay and NS, respectively. Weight at pre-breeding and pregnancy diagnosis were greater (P < 0.04) for heifers from PS dams, but were unaffected by EL nutrition (P > 0.10). There was no effect (P > 0.10) of LG or EL dam nutrition on age at puberty or percentage of heifers cycling before breeding. There was no difference (P > 0.10) in pregnancy rates due to EL treatment. Pregnancy rates were greater (P = 0.05) for heifers from PS dams and a greater proportion (P = 0.005) of heifers from PS dams calved in the first 21 d of the heifers' first calving season. Average calving date, calving difficulty, and calf birth weight during the initial calving season were not influenced (P > 0.10) by nutrition of the heifers' dams. Weight at the beginning of the second breeding season was greater (P = 0.005) for heifers from PS dams but was not affected by maternal nutrition during EL (P > 0.10). Dam nutrition did not affect (P > 0.10) heifer ADG or G:F ratio. Heifers from PS dams had greater DMI (P = 0.09) and residual feed intake (P = 0.07) than heifers from NS cows if their dams were fed hay during EL, but not if their dams grazed meadows. Heifers born to PS cows were heavier at weaning, pre-breeding, first pregnancy diagnosis, and before their second breeding season. Heifers from cows that grazed meadows during EL were heavier at weaning, but post-weaning BW were similar. Despite similar ages at puberty and similar proportions of heifers cycling before the breeding season, a greater proportion of heifers from PS dams calved in the first 21 d of the heifers' first calving season and pregnancy rates were greater compared to heifers from NS dams. Collectively these results provide evidence of a fetal programming effect on heifer post-weaning BW and fertility.
Key Words: fertility, fetal programming, heifer development, maternal nutrition, protein supplement
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