92 Maternal Nutrient Restriction of Primiparous Beef Heifers During Late Gestation Decreases Colostrum Yield and Reduces Calf Vigor

Abstract

Abstract We hypothesized that late gestational nutrient restriction (NR) would reduce colostrum yield and impair offspring transition to postnatal life. Primiparous, fall-calving crossbred beef heifers (BW: 451 ± 28 [SD] kg; BCS: 5.4 ± 0.7) were individually-fed either 100% (control; CON; n = 12) or 70% (n = 13) of NASEM net energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from d 160 of gestation to parturition. Delivery duration was determined as minutes from first fetal feet expulsion to birth. Calves were reared naturally by their dams and monitored for times from birth to first sternal recumbency, attempt to stand, and stand; vigor scores (1 = very weak, 5 = extremely vigorous) were assigned at 2, 5, 10, and 20 min of age. Total colostrum from one rear quarter was collected pre-suckling. Calf rectal temperatures were recorded at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postnatally. Data were analyzed with the fixed effects of treatment (single point) or treatment, hour, and their interaction (over time, using repeated measures). Date of calving was a fixed effect; calf sex was included when P < 0.25. Heifers fed CON had greater (P = 0.04) colostrum weight and volume than NR. Although gestational nutrition did not affect (P = 0.72) calf birth weight, calves born to CON heifers had faster (P = 0.02) times to stand and tended to have faster (P = 0.09) times to attempt to stand. Calves from CON heifers had greater (P = 0.05) 20 min vigor scores. Rectal temperatures at 0 h were greater (P = 0.02) in CON calves, but at 24 h were greater (P = 0.04) in NR calves. These data indicate that heifers nutrient restricted during late gestation have reduced colostrum yield and less vigorous calves, which may influence postnatal calf survival.