Abstract
Puberty in heifers is attained after a period of 6 to 24 months postnatal maturation, which, from a teleological standpoint, may be said to allow the process of natural selection to delay weaker animals from reproducing. Maturation involves a complex interplay of endocrine factors which bring about development of the reproductive tract. The rate at which this occurs is dependant to a large extent on genetic and environmental factors. Thus, it can be said that puberty occurs at a specific physiological, as opposed to chronological age. In heifers, first ovulation is triggered when the hypothalamo-pituitary axis loses its sensitivity to the negative feedback effect of oestradiol-17β, allowing an LH surge to occur. It is now known that puberty and first ovulation are not necessarily synonymous. In fact, after first ovulation, some time is needed before the reproductive system “drives itself in”. During this period short cycles and silent ovulations often occur.
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