Age at First Gestation in Beef Heifers Affects Fetal and Postnatal Growth, Glucose Metabolism and IGF1 Concentration

Abstract

Simple SummaryIn cow-calf operations, replacement heifers are bred to calve at 2 years of age or older. However, as beef production has become more intensive during the last 20 years, an increasing number of farmers have lowered the age at first service. Numerous studies have focused on determining the optimum reproductive development of beef heifers to ensure a maximum pregnancy rate. Maternal age during gestation has been suggested to be an important influence on the nutritional environment for the embryo and fetal growth. No studies have been conducted to determine the possible effects of heifer age at first gestation on fetal and postnatal growth and development. This study aimed to determine the effects of age at first gestation on offspring growth performance, glucose metabolism and insulin-like growth factor 1 concentration from birth to weaning of calves from adult cows and heifers at 15 or 27 months of service. First-breed heifers produce lighter progeny at birth than mature cows, and calves from younger heifers were lighter at weaning than calves from older heifers. Milk production was similar between heifers and lower than that from adult cows. Age at first gestation may affect offspring postnatal growth performance, glucose metabolism and IGF1 concentration.This study aimed to determine the effects of age at first gestation on offspring growth performance, glucose metabolism, and IGF1 concentration. Heifers impregnated by AI from a single bull at 15 months of age (15 M, n = 20), or 27 months of age (27 M, n = 20), and multiparous cows (adult, n = 20) were used. Dams from all groups were managed in a single group during gestation and lactation. Gestational length was longer in the 15 M and 27 M than in adult dams (p = 0.009). Bodyweight at birth, at weaning and ADG during lactation were higher in calves from adult dams than in those from 27 M dams, and higher in calves from the latter than in 15 M calves (p < 0.001). Calves from 15 M dams had an increased head circumference/BW ratio compared to calves from 27 M dams, while calves from this latter group had an increased ratio compared to calves from adults (p = 0.005). Body mass index was greater in calves from adults than in those from 15 M and 27 M dams (p = 0.002). Milk production from 15 M and 27 M dams was similar but lower than that from adults (p = 0.03). Calves born from adult dams had greater blood glucose concentrations than those from 15 M and 27 M dams (p < 0.05). Serum IGF1 concentrations were higher in calves from adults than in calves from 15 M and 27 M dams (p = 0.01). This study showed that age at first gestation affects offspring postnatal growth performance, glucose metabolism and IGF1 concentration.