Abstract
Abstract As cow-calf producers focus on greater weaning weights, selection for increased production parameters including milk production and weaning weight have become prevalent. However, increased cow-calf production may not be captured due to environmental conditions and resource availability. A retrospective analysis was conducted to model the impact of milk production on utilizing data collected from a March calving herd (n = 348) from 2000 to 2018 in the Nebraska Sandhills. The objective of this study was to determine the impact milk production has on subsequent cow reproductive performance and calf performance throughout the pre- and post-weaning phases. Cow body weight (BW) and cow age increased (P < 0.01) average milk production throughout the lactation period with body condition score (BCS) decreasing (P < 0.01) as milk production increased. Pregnancy rate and subsequent calf birth date were not influenced (P ≥ 0.80) by level of milk production. Increasing dam milk production resulted in increased (P < 0.05) calf pre-weaning ADG and adjusted 205-d calf weaning BW. In addition, dam milk production positively influenced (P > 0.05) steer progeny final live calf BW and hot carcass weight (HCW). All other post-weaning performance and carcass characteristics were not influenced (P > 0.05) by dam milk production. This study indicates for each additional kg of milk production calf weaning BW increased 6.6 kg. The greater adjusted 205-d calf weaning BW was maintained through the feeding period resulting in greater final live BW and HCW.
Highlights
Livestock producers have tended to select for increased output traits like milk production and growth to increase productivity
Even with the increased selection for greater calf growth potential, some regions in the United States have seen a plateau in calf body weight (BW) at weaning (Lalman et al, 2019)
When focusing on reaching maximum potential of these output traits, it is important to consider the multitude of variables that affect a production system
Summary
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscifacpub Part of the Genetics and Genomics Commons, and the Meat Science Commons. Tasha M.; Musgrave, Jacki A.; Funston, Richard N.; and Mulliniks, J. Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal Science. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Papers and Publications in Animal Science by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska Lincoln. Travis Mulliniks‡,1 †Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583; and ‡West Central
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