Abstract
Thirty-two multiparous Angus cows at moderate body condition score (3 in a 1-5 scale) received feed supplementation at the beginning of lactation for a short time to determine the effect on milk yield and composition and on performance of cows and calves. Supplementation started on days 22 ± 3.2 after calving. The cows were randomly distributed into two groups (n =16), one group receiving feed supplementation for 35 days (supplemented group), and the other without supplementation (control group). Each cow received 0.6% of its body weight in individual troughs daily. Both groups were kept in native pasture condition during supplementation period. Milk yield evaluation, performance of cows and calves were controlled on day 0 (initial), day 14 (middle) and day 35 (final) of the supplementation period. There was no effect of feed supplementation on milk yield or on any other milk component in both groups, and on calf performance as well. Milk composition differed among periods, when fat was the highest in the middle of supplementation and lactose was the highest in the end of the period. Supplemented cows presented more daily average weight gain at the final period of supplementation than cows from the control group. Beef cow with moderate body condition score can gain weight during the lactation period as a response to increase of energy availability in a short period without any influence on milk production and composition as well as a consequence on calf performance.
Highlights
Pre-weaning or lactation periods are very important in the beef cattle, because in this moment cows should be able to develop two important functions: raise their calves period frequently results in failure of the cow becoming pregnant (Short et al, 1990).Reproduction performance is the most important factor in beef cowherd (Hess et al, 2005), in which postpartum anestrus is the main factor affecting reproductive resumption in beef cows (Short et al, 1990)
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of extra energy intake for a short period of time during the early postpartum period on performance of cows, and calves, milk production and composition, in beef cows calving in moderate body condition score
Greater postpartum nutrient intake can enhance the secretion of LH and follicular growth (Perry et al, 1991; Lents et al, 2008), and effects of nutrition on reproduction may be more pronounced in thin cows than in cows with adequate body condition score (BCS) (Richards et al, 1986; Spitzer et al, 1995)
Summary
Pre-weaning or lactation periods are very important in the beef cattle, because in this moment cows should be able to develop two important functions: raise their calves period frequently results in failure of the cow becoming pregnant (Short et al, 1990).Reproduction performance is the most important factor in beef cowherd (Hess et al, 2005), in which postpartum anestrus is the main factor affecting reproductive resumption in beef cows (Short et al, 1990). Nutritional stress combined with lactation anestrus (See Williams [1990] for a detailed review) is the primary factor determining the duration of postpartum anestrus in cattle (Short et al, 1990). These factors together with the effect of parity, most likely contributed collectively to cause the extremely long anestrous period in those cows. Interval from calving to first estrus and pregnancy rate in beef cows are influenced by pre-partum nutrition and postpartum nutrition (Randel 1990; Stalker et al, 2006), body condition (Ciccioli et al, 2003; Moraes et al, 2007) and suckling status (Williams et al, 1996). It is possible that feeding programs to achieve more rapid weight and great body condition in a strategic way would allow cows gain weight, maintain their BCS and reduce postpartum interval (Lalman et al, 2000; Cerdótes et al, 2004a; Freetly et al, 2006)
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