Effect of forage:concentrate ratio on digestion and reproduction in primiparous beef heifers.

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of high- (HF) and moderate- (MF) forage diets on digestive and reproductive characteristics in beef heifers. Thirty primiparous beef heifers were allotted by weight and backfat thickness to receive either 80:20 (HF) or 50: 50 (MF) forage:concentrate ratio diets from parturition to at least 90 d postpartum. Alfalfa hay and wheat straw were the forage sources and barley was the concentrate source. Equal daily amounts of ME were provided to all heifers by restricting intake of the MF diet. Digestibility of DM was greater (P < .001) for MF compared with HF diets, whereas NDF digestibility was not different. Dry matter and NDF digested daily was lower (P < .001) for MF than for HF diets. Ruminal fluid pH was lower (P < .05) for MF diets; however, the acetate:propionate ratio was not different. Serum insulin concentrations were greater for MF diets for all hours (P < .001) and weeks (P < .05) of sampling. Changes in weight, backfat thickness, and body condition score at 90 d postpartum were not different between treatments. Calf gain to 30 d, however, was greater (P < .10) for the MF than for the HF treatment (25.5 vs 20.7 kg). Maximum size of the ovulatory follicle was greater (P < .10) for cows receiving the HF diet than for cows receiving the MF diet. However, other aspects of ovarian follicular growth and wave dynamics and the intervals from parturition to first and second ovulation, first estrus, first service, and conception were not different between treatments. Shifts in energy supply from forage to concentrate had minimal effect on digestion and reproduction in first-calf beef heifers in this study.