Abstract
ABSTRACT Fifty-seven primiparous Angus, Hereford, and crossbred cows were used to study the effect of strategic supplementation on metabolic, productive, and reproductive responses. The experiment had two periods including four phases: prepartum supplementation (phase I; 52 days), early postpartum (phase II; 43 days), pre-mating supplementation (phase III; 21 days), and the last phase including mating, gestation, and lactation until weaning (phase IV; 103 days). Phases I and II were considered as period 1, and phases III and IV were considered [...]
Highlights
In extensive pastoral production systems, based on natural grassland, pregnancy rate and weaning weights are the main limitations for cow-calf operations and, within a typical herd, primiparous beef cows are usually the category most affected (Bellows et al, 1982)
The negative energy balance is evidenced by changes in the concentration of some metabolites and metabolic hormones and a decrease in body condition score (BCS) of the cows
Our objective was to evaluate the effect of supplementation either during 52 days before calving or 21 days before mating on metabolic and hormonal profiles, BW, BCS, milk production and composition, calf weight, ovarian activity, and pregnancy rate of primiparous beef cows grazing Campos grasslands of southern South America
Summary
In extensive pastoral production systems, based on natural grassland, pregnancy rate and weaning weights are the main limitations for cow-calf operations and, within a typical herd, primiparous beef cows are usually the category most affected (Bellows et al, 1982). The negative energy balance is evidenced by changes in the concentration of some metabolites and metabolic hormones and a decrease in body condition score (BCS) of the cows. Cows with low BCS at calving have longer anestrus postpartum and low pregnancy rates (Wettemann et al, 2003; Soca et al, 2014b), milk production, and calf weight at weaning. This is even deeper in primiparous cows (Bellows et al, 1982), since they have an additional energy demand to continue growing (Short et al, 1990)
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