Journal articles on the topic 'Early calf nutrition'
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1
Alford, A. R., L. M. Cafe, P. L. Greenwood, and G. R. Griffith. "Economic effects of nutritional constraints early in life of cattle." Animal Production Science 49, no. 6 (2009): 479. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08266.
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An experiment was conducted at the Grafton Agricultural Research Station on the northern coast of New South Wales whereby low and high pasture nutritional systems were imposed on a herd of Hereford cows during pregnancy and from birth to weaning in a factorial design. Offspring representing extremes of growth to birth and/or weaning were then selected for study of long-term consequences of growth early in life. Implications of the nutritional treatments of cows on subsequent weaning rates were also tested with data from previous studies. The extent to which these extreme maternal nutritional and offspring growth scenarios affected herd profitability was tested with the Beef-N-Omics decision support package. For the representative cattle enterprise modelled, gross margin per hectare ranged from $A114 to $A132. In all cases, the gross margin for those groups with fetal growth based on a higher level of nutrition exceeded that of their peers on a lower level of nutrition. It is more profitable for cows and calves to have access to a high standard of nutrition during pregnancy and up to weaning than for them to have access only to a poor standard of nutrition. Incorporating differential weaning rates following maternal nutritional treatments reduced gross margins per hectare by up to 30%. On average, a 1% reduction in weaning rate resulted in a 4.5% reduction in gross margin. Restricted cow–calf nutrition affects the future cow fertility, as well as the current calf progeny, economically.
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Sherwin, Ginny, Georgina Thomas, and Laura Tennant. "Energized calf milk: is it worth investing in early life nutrition?" Livestock 26, no. 4 (July 2, 2021): 186–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/live.2021.26.4.186.
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Research has indicated that daily liveweight gain (DLWG) is a key component of efficient heifer rearing, in terms of reducing age at first calving as well as future production, health and survival. While DLWG is impacted by multiple factors, one of the main factors is milk feeding, with whole milk (WM) having the optimal composition to maximise DLWGs in heifers. Commercial milk replacers (CMR) have been shown to be highly variable in terms of formulation balance, raw material inclusion and nutrient digestibility. Energized calf milk (ECM) has been designed to have a similar osmolality and lower lactose level than whole milk (WM), resulting in a decreased risk of osmotic diarrhoea. ECM has been designed to have a higher fat content than standard CMRs, with increased digestibility and improved solubility of fats as a result of homogenisation and encapsulation of the fats. Higher levels of fat in CMR has been reported to have potential health benefits, increased DLWG and increased future milk yields. One of the downsides of ECM is the higher price per tonne; however combined with the higher feed conversion efficiency of pre-weaned calves, ECM can result in increased DLWG and potentially decreased health issues and therefore the price per kg weight gain can make ECM an economically viable option, before considering the potential longer-term benefits.
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Cangiano, Lautaro Rostoll, Nilusha Malmuthuge, Tao Ma, Leluo Guan, and Michael A. Steele. "131 Can Maternal Nutrition in Dairy Cattle Impact Gut Health in Dairy Calves?" Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_3 (October 8, 2021): 69–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.126.
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Abstract The nutritional management, health and welfare of the dairy calf has historically received less attention due to limited research, and recommendations largely focused on passive transfer of immunity and early weaning strategies. Gastrointestinal diseases and disorders remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in dairy calves worldwide. Despite the recent thrust in dairy calf nutrition research, major knowledge gaps still exist regarding how maternal nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum impact gastrointestinal health and function, especially during the fetal and neonatal stages when the developmental plasticity is highest. Recent research has focused on how prepartum nutrition and management can influence colostrum quality and has characterized numerous bioactive proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that may play a critical role in gastrointestinal function and development. It has also been shown that colostrum plays a fundamental role in promoting colonization with commensal bacteria; however, delaying colostrum feeding or abruptly transitioning calves from colostrum to milk decreased the colonization of beneficial bacteria and impaired gastrointestinal development. With respect to the maternal nutrient supply via milk, it is important to note that calves have been traditionally fed less than half of voluntary intake or fed milk replacer formulations that can largely differ in composition from that of maternal milk. Recent research indicated that common milk replacer formulations may impair gastrointestinal function, highlighting the need to question existing nutritional regimens. In addition, feeding prophylactic antibiotics in milk, as well as waste milk containing antibiotic residues, are common practices in the dairy industry, despite recent studies reporting that these practices can increase calf susceptibility to infections by disrupting gut microbiome and gut function. Although our knowledge how maternal factors impact the gastrointestinal tract of calves is limited, it is clear there are great opportunities to further develop prenatal and postnatal nutritional programs to improve dairy calf gastrointestinal health.
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Gutiérrez, V., A. C. Espasandín, P. Machado, A. Bielli, P. Genovese, and M. Carriquiry. "Effects of calf early nutrition on muscle fiber characteristics and gene expression." Livestock Science 167 (September 2014): 408–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2014.07.010.
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Cardoso, Claudia L., Ailbhe King, Aspinas Chapwanya, and Giulia Esposito. "Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Influences on Neonatal Immunity, Growth and Puberty of Calves—A Review." Animals 11, no. 5 (April 22, 2021): 1212. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11051212.
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Calf immunity, growth and puberty are important factors affecting heifer productivity. The first four weeks of age are critical for reducing calf morbidity and mortality. It is well documented that colostrum is paramount to neonatal nutrition and passive immunity, however, adaptation to extra-uterine life starts early during embryonic development. Therefore, successful calf rearing strategies are underpinned by adequate maternal nutrition during gestation, and good colostrum management. A deeper understanding of these interactions paves the way for developing strategies to improve immune responses to environmental pathogens, optimal growth and timely attainment of puberty in calves. The literature reviewed here shows that there are opportunities to enhance the future performance of cattle paying attention to the interaction of nutrition and immunity at each developmental stage. Therefore, the objective of this review is to give the reader an overview of interactions between immunity, growth and puberty in dairy calves and highlight how these influence future performances.
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Diao, Qiyu, Rong Zhang, and Tong Fu. "Review of Strategies to Promote Rumen Development in Calves." Animals 9, no. 8 (July 26, 2019): 490. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9080490.
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Digestive tract development in calves presents a uniquely organized system. Specifically, as the rumen develops and becomes colonized by microorganisms, a calf physiologically transitions from a pseudo-monogastric animal to a functioning ruminant. Importantly, the development of rumen in calves can directly affect the intake of feed, nutrient digestibility and overall growth. Even minor changes in the early feeding regime and nutrition can drastically influence rumen development, resulting in long-term effects on growth, health, and milk yields in adult cattle. Rumen development in newborn calves is one of the most important and interesting areas of calf nutrition. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent studies of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract development in calves. Moreover, we also describe the effect of the environment in shaping the GI tract, including diet, feed additives and feeding management, as well as discuss the strategies to promote the physiological and microbiological development of rumen.
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Dixon, R. M., L. J. Kidd, D. B. Coates, S. T. Anderson, M. A. Benvenutti, M. T. Fletcher, and D. M. McNeill. "Utilising mobilisation of body reserves to improve the management of phosphorus nutrition of breeder cows." Animal Production Science 57, no. 11 (2017): 2280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an17324.
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Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to the productivity of breeder herds grazing low-P rangelands due to adverse effects on growth and fertility. However, P supplementation during the wet season, when additional dietary P is most needed, is often difficult due to practical constraints. Body P reserves in breeders can be mobilised and alleviate dietary P deficiency within an annual cycle. Approaches to estimate bone P reserves and net mobilisation or replenishment of P from the analysis of rib and hip (tuber coxae) biopsies are discussed. In at least some circumstances, breeder cows grazing P-deficient pastures mobilise bone P to alleviate the effects of diet P deficiency. Recent experiments with breeders have investigated mobilisation of body P to alleviate the adverse effects of dietary P deficiency during pregnancy and early lactation, and subsequent replenishment of body P reserves. Both mature cows and first-calf cows (FCC) calving in a high P status and fed severely P-deficient diets during lactation were able to mobilise sufficient body P reserves to provide milk for moderate calf growth (viz. 0.6–0.8 kg liveweight (LW)/day for 3 months), but this was associated with rapid cow-LW loss and markedly decreased bone P content. First-calf cows appear to have lesser capacity than mature cows to mobilise body P. FCC fed P-adequate diets during late pregnancy maintained high voluntary intakes and had higher LW and bone P reserves at calving. When fed a P-deficient diet during early lactation, these greater bone P reserves were utilised. Bone P reserves can be replenished by P-adequate diets fed post-weaning. Breeder management that relies more on mobilising body P reserves when P demands are high and on replacing these body P reserves when P demands are lower offers an opportunity to alleviate the effects of dietary P deficiencies during the early wet season in situations where P supplementation is not possible.
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Wicks, H. C. F., R. J. Fallon, J. Twigge, and L. E. R. Dawson. "Effect of altering the protein intake of autumn-born Holstein-Friesian calves on calf performance." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 2005 (2005): 193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1752756200011042.
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Data from the US (Van Amburgh et al., (2001)) suggests that the current UK recommendations for feeding the neonatal calf (˜500g milk replacer/d, at ˜230 g crude protein per kg fresh milk powder) are inadequate to sustain high growth rates in early life. It has been suggested that increasing nutrition during the first 6-8 weeks of the calf’s life will improve lifetime production, health and fertility. An experiment was therefore initiated to investigate the influence of level of milk replacer feeding and the crude protein content of the milk replacer on calf performance during the first 8 weeks of life, under UK conditions.
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English, A. M., S. Fair, C. J. Byrne, S. M. Waters, and D. A. Kenny. "449 Effect of early calf-hood nutrition on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in Holstein-Friesian bulls." Journal of Animal Science 95, suppl_4 (August 1, 2017): 220–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/asasann.2017.449.
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Coen, Stephen P., David A. Kenny, Sean Fair, Pat Lonergan, and Kate Keogh. "PSVII-41 Late-Breaking Abstract: Impact of enhanced early life nutrition on the testes transcriptional profile of the bull calf." Journal of Animal Science 98, Supplement_4 (November 3, 2020): 341–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.605.
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Abstract Enhanced plane of nutrition and metabolic status are known to progress sexual development in the bull calf. This is facilitated through neuroendocrine signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular signaling axis. Improved nutrition may lead to early release of hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and the subsequent production of follicle stimulating luteinizing hormones in the anterior pituitary and ultimately development of the testes and sexual development. Nonetheless the precise molecular mechanisms leading to this effect are yet to be expounded. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differentially expressed (DE) genes within the testes of bull calves differentially fed for the first 12 weeks of life. The main functions of the testes are the biosynthesis of androgens by the leydig cells and sperm production by the seminiferous tubules. Accelerating the development of this tissue may lead to enhanced reproductive development at an earlier stage. Holstein Friesian bull calves with a mean (SEM) age and bodyweight of 17.5 (2.8) days and 48.8 (5.3) kg, respectively, were assigned to either a high (H; n = 15) or moderate (M; n = 15) plane of nutrition, to achieve an average target growth rate of 1.0 and 0.5 kg/day, respectively. Calves on H and M received 1.5 and 0.5 kg of milk replacer (MR) per day, reconstituted at 15 and 12.5% (w/v), respectively. Calves on H were offered concentrate ad libitum, while those on M received, 500g day-1. Both groups were offered 500 g of hay daily. At 87 days (±2.141) of age, all calves were euthanized and the testes recovered from all calves. RNA was isolated from all testes samples and subsequently subjected to RNAseq analysis. Calves offered a higher plane of nutrition were heavier at slaughter (112 v 88 kg, P < 0.001), reflective of their higher ADG (0.88 v 0.58 kg, P < 0.001). Similarly, H also had heavier testes (29.2 v 20.1 g, P < 0.05) compared to M calves. Results from RNAseq analysis identified 27 DE genes (p.adj< 0.1; fold change >1.5). Cholesterol biosynthesis was an enriched pathway and reproductive system development was also affected. We also saw that Claudin11 was an up regulated DE gene which is involved in sertoli cell development. The results from this study would advocate that there is potential effects of improved nutrition on reproductive function within the testes of bull calves at 12 weeks of age.
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Dixon, R. M., S. T. Anderson, L. J. Kidd, and M. T. Fletcher. "Management of phosphorus nutrition of beef cattle grazing seasonally dry rangelands: a review." Animal Production Science 60, no. 7 (2020): 863. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an19344.
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This review examines the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency as a major constraint to productivity of cattle grazing rangelands with low-P soils. Nutritional deficiency of P may severely reduce liveweight (LW) gain of growing cattle (e.g. by 20–60 kg/annum) and the productivity of breeder cow herds as weaning rate, mortality and calf growth. In seasonally dry tropical environments, the production responses to supplementary P occur primarily during the rainy season when the nutritional quality of pasture as metabolisable energy (ME) and protein is high and pasture P concentration is limiting, even though the P concentrations are higher than during dry season. When ME and nitrogen of rainy-season pasture are adequate, then P-deficient cattle typically continue to gain LW slowly, but with reduced bone mineralisation (i.e. osteomalacia). In beef breeder herds when diet P is insufficient, cows with high bone P reserves can mobilise bone P reserves during late pregnancy and early lactation. Mobilisation may contribute up to the equivalent of ~7 g diet P/day (one-third of the P requirements) in early lactation, and, thus, allow acutely P-deficient breeders to maintain calf growth for at least several months until depletion of cow body P reserves. However, severe P deficiency in cattle is usually associated with reduced voluntary intake (e.g. by 20–30% per kg LW), severe LW loss and poor reconception rates. When P intake is greater than immediate requirements, breeders can replenish bone P. Replenishment in mature cows occurs slowly when ME intake is sufficient only for slow LW gain, but rapidly at ME intakes sufficient for rapid LW gain. Bone P replenishment also occurs in late-pregnant heifers even when losing maternal LW. Intervals of mobilisation and replenishment of body P reserves will often be important for P nutrition of beef breeder cows through annual cycles. Diagnosis of P deficiency in grazing cattle is difficult and must encompass estimation of both diet P intake and availability of P from body reserves. Cattle behaviour (e.g. pica, osteophagea), low soil P concentrations and low herd productivity provide valuable indicators. Some constituents of blood (plasma inorganic P, calcium, plasma inorganic P:calcium ratios and endocrine markers) are valuable indicators, but the threshold values indicative of P deficiency at various ME intakes are not well established. It is evident that knowledge of both the nutritional physiology and requirements for P provide opportunities to better manage P nutrition to alleviate production losses in low-input systems with beef cattle grazing rangelands.
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Rainforth, Molly. "The effect of maternal nutritional restriction on fetal development and performance of offspring in beef cattle." Alberta Academic Review 1, no. 2 (March 27, 2019): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.29173/aar12.
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Health, growth efficiency and carcass quality are major considerations in beef production. The foundation for this is thought to be linked to fetal development. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is one factor that can influence fetal development and offspring growth. However, its specific effects on postnatal growth of castrated calves (steers) raised for meat are not well understood. This review considers the nutritional requirements of pregnant cows and summarizes the effect of maternal nutritional restriction throughout gestation on calf growth. It also evaluates the different developmental stage at which nutritional restriction will have the greatest impact. It is found that even though early gestation is a critical period for the formation of the placenta and the initial organ development, the fetus has the ability to compensate for developmental restrictions resulting from maternal malnutrition during this period. Meanwhile, during mid-to late gestation maternal nutritional restriction has the greatest impact on offspring performance. Maternal malnutrition during this key period can reduce birth weight, which is strongly correlated to the lifetime performance of steers in terms of health and growth efficiency. Proper nutritional management of cows is essential throughout gestation, but additional attention should be given to the mid-to-late gestational period to ensure calves are born at optimal birth weight. Further, it is suggested that maternal nutrition does not appear to have a consistent effect on carcass quality, instead, external factors near the time of slaughter may be the major determinants.
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Costa, Joao H. C., Melissa C. Cantor, Nicola A. Adderley, and Heather W. Neave. "Key animal welfare issues in commercially raised dairy calves: social environment, nutrition, and painful procedures." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 99, no. 4 (December 1, 2019): 649–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2019-0031.
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Dairy calf welfare concerns are growing and new evidence suggests that the early life environment influences appropriate physical, behavioral, and cognitive development lasting into adulthood. This review highlights key evidence for the impacts of housing, diets, and painful procedures on calf welfare. We argue that these topics are currently critical welfare concerns, but are not the only points of concern. In addition to environmental requirements to maintain optimal health, dairy calves experience other challenges including social and nutritional restrictions. Individual housing is associated with impaired behavioral development and cognitive ability. Pair and group housing can mitigate some of these negative effects and should be encouraged. Restrictive milk allowances (<15% of body weight) lead to poor growth and hunger; these welfare concerns can be addressed with proper enhanced milk allowances and gradual weaning programs. Finally, dehorning is a critical animal welfare issue when pain control is withheld; calves show negative behavioral, physiological, and emotional responses during and after dehorning. The combined use of local anaesthetics and analgesics can mitigate these effects. An industry shift toward providing social companionship, enhanced milk allowances, and pain control during painful procedures would help to improve the welfare of dairy calves in intensive commercial rearing facilities.
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Obese, FY, DA Acheampong, and KA Darfour-Oduro. "Growth and reproductive traits of friesian X sanga crossbred cattle in the Accra plains of Ghana." African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 13, no. 57 (April 25, 2013): 7357–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.57.11440.
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The typical cattle production system in Ghana is predominantly pasture-based. Cattle are grazed all year round on natural pastures with minimal feed supplementation. The animals kept in this production system often experience inadequate nutrition and fluctuating nutrient supply affecting their productivity. There is presently limited information on the growth and reproductive performance of the Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle (Plate 1) and factors influencing these performance traits. The growth and reproductive performance records of 150 Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle, kept at the Animal Research Institute station in the Accra Plains of Ghana from April 1993 to October 2009 were evaluated to determine the effect of parity of cow, season of calving and sex of calf on birth weight, weaning weight, growth rate, age at first calving and calving interval. The birth weight and weaning weights of the calves averaged 21.8 ± 0.5 kg and 94.2 ± 3.8 kg, respectively, and were not (P > 0.05) affected by sex of calf, parity of cow or season of calving. Parity of cow affected (P < 0.05) weight of calf at 12 months. Calf weight at 12 and 18 months averaged 128.0 ± 3.4 kg and 159.9 ± 4.5 kg, respectively. Pre-weaning and post-weaning average daily gains were 0.33 ± 0.02 kg/day and 0.23 ± 0.03 kg/day, respectively, and were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by sex of calf, parity of cow or season of calving. The mean age at first calving was 41.2 ± 1.2 months. Calving interval was prolonged averaging 441.6 ± 10.3 days and was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by parity of cow. Calving interval decreased with increasing parity of cow. The age at first calving and calving interval were not (P > 0.05) affected by either sex of calf or season of calving. The growth and reproductive performance of the Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle was less than optimum. Improving their nutrition could impact, positively, on their productivity through fast growth, increased milk yield and early resumption of ovarian cycles after calving. Thus, results from this study should guide the development of appropriate strategies for increased meat and milk production in Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle.
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Sawyer, GJ, J. Milligan, and DJ Barker. "Time of joining affects the performance of young Angus and Angus multiply Friesian cattle in the south-west of Western Australia. 2. Calf productivity and its relationship with milk production and reproduction in first-calvers." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 33, no. 5 (1993): 523. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9930523.
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In a 3-year study using 183 Angus and 173 Angus x Friesian first-calf heifers, calf birth weight, growth, and efficiency of production were measured for 3 calving times: April (conventional), March (4 weeks earlier), and May (4 weeks later). Measurements included calving outcome; calf birth weights and weight gains; and liveweight, condition, milk yield, and reproductive performance of first-calving dams. Calves born to Angus or Angus x Friesian dams in March or May, respectively, were 1.2 or 1.5 kg heavier at birth than those born in April and were associated with more protracted, difficult calvings and calf losses. Heavier dams gave birth to heavier calves (partial regression coefficient 0.028; value almost doubled for later born calves). Calves born early grew more slowly (by 0.1 kg/day) than calves born at, or later than, the onset of pasture growth (April). The effect was present until weaning but was especially marked at 50-150 days of age. During this period milk production of the dam and available pasture influenced calf growth. Hence, calves from Angus x Friesian dams grew faster (by 0.12 kg/day) than calves from Angus dams until 150 days of age. Thereafter, the difference in growth rate was halved. There was a positive relationship between both liveweight and condition of the 2 breeds of dam at the start of second joining and the growth rate of their calves up to 100 days of age (faster by 0.02 kg/day for every 10 kg dam liveweight). Angus x Friesian dams produced more milk (by about 2.0 kg/day) than Angus dams, resulting in faster growth (by 0.07-0.1 kg/day) of crossbred calves and an advantage of 27.1 kg over Angus calves at weaning. Calf growth and milk yield of dam were significantly associated at 51-200 days for crossbreds and at 51-100 days for Angus. The better milking ability of the crossbred dams did not fully offset the poorer growth made by calves born early. Few calves were suitable for slaughter as weaners for the domestic market. Later born calves grew fastest, but the reduced second conception rates of their dams in restricted joining periods and the lower age of calves at weaning adversely affected total calf productivity following later calving. Similarly, early-born calves grew more slowly and incurred extra production costs through supplementary feeding of their dams with no advantage demonstrated in the fertility of these first-calvers. Varying the time of calving of first-calf heifers from that of the main herd calving around the break of season is not recommended for beef herds relying mainly on seasonal nutrition from pastures.
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Tegegne, A., P. O. Osuji, A. Lahlou-Kassi, and E. Mukasa-Mugerwa. "Effect of dam nutrition and suckling on lactation in Borana cows and growth in their Borana × Friesian crossbred calves in an early weaning system in Ethiopia." Animal Science 58, no. 1 (February 1994): 19–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0003356100007030.
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AbstractForty-four Borana × Friesian F1 crossbred calves born to Borana (Bos indicus) cows were randomly assigned to either suck their dams hvice daily or bucket-feeding with 1341 milk over a 57-day pre-weaning period. Their dams were also allocated either to a supplement group with grass hayad libitumand 5 kg per head per day of a concentrate ration or to an unsupplemented group withad libitumgrass hay only. Calves were fed in individual boxes in a calf house. The mean birth weight of calves was 24·8 (s.e. 1·8) kg. Suckled calves were heavier (P < 0·01) at weaning (47·7 (s.e. 1·9) v.37·1 (s.e. 1·8) kg) and had faster pre-weaning growth rate (411 (s.e. 30)v.215 (s.e. 29) g/day) than bucket-fed calves. Calves which sucked supplemented cows were heavier (P < 0·001) at weaning (51·2 (s.e. 2·6)v. 44·2 (s.e. 2·6) kg), had faster (P < 0·01) pre-weaning growth rate (477 (s.e. 41)v.346 (s.e. 41) glday) and higher (P<0·01) daily milk intake (2·6 (s.e. 0·2)v.1·6 (s.e. 0·2) I/day) than those which sucked unsupplemented cows. Mean concentrate intake was 302 (s.e. 30) g/day for bucket-fed calves and 341 (s.e. 33) and 408 (s.e. 33) g/day for calves which sucked supplemented and unsupplemented cows. Cow milk production was higher (P < 0·01) in suckled than in milked cows (3·3 (s.e. 0·2)v.1·0 (s.e. 0·2) I/day) and in supplemented than unsupplemented cows (3·9 (s.e. 0·2)v.2·7 (s.e. 0·2) I/day). Concentrations of milk protein, fat and total solids averaged 39 (s.e. 15), 49 (s.e. 16) and 143 (s.e. 21) g/kg, respectively and were not significantly influenced by either concentrate supplementation or suckling. Restricted suckling and early weaning coupled with appropriate calf and cow feeding regimes could be one of the alternatives for calf rearing under smallholder and small scale peri-urban dairy production systems. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate the effects of such a strategy on both calf and cow performances under these production systems.
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Barcelos, Sandra de Sousa, Karolina Batista Nascimento, Tadeu Eder da Silva, Rafael Mezzomo, Kaliandra Souza Alves, Márcio de Souza Duarte, and Mateus Pies Gionbelli. "The Effects of Prenatal Diet on Calf Performance and Perspectives for Fetal Programming Studies: A Meta-Analytical Investigation." Animals 12, no. 16 (August 21, 2022): 2145. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12162145.
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This meta-analysis aimed to identify knowledge gaps in the scientific literature on future fetal-programming studies and to investigate the factors that determine the performance of beef cows and their offspring. A dataset composed of 35 publications was used. The prenatal diet, body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) during pregnancy, and calf sex were elicited as possible modulators of the beef cows and their offspring performance. Then, the correlations between these variables and the outcomes of interest were investigated. A mixed multiple linear regression procedure was used to evaluate the relationships between the responses and all the possible explanatory variables. A knowledge gap was observed in studies focused on zebu animals, with respect to the offspring sex and the consequences of prenatal nutrition in early pregnancy. The absence of studies considering the possible effects promoted by the interactions between the different stressors’ sources during pregnancy was also detected. A regression analysis showed that prenatal diets with higher levels of protein improved the ADG of pregnant beef cows and that heavier cows give birth to heavier calves. Variations in the BW at weaning were related to the BW at birth and calf sex. Therefore, this research reinforces the importance of monitoring the prenatal nutrition of beef cows.
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Law, RA, FJ Young, DC Patterson, and CS Mayne. "Effect of body condition score at calving and diet energy content post calving on the fertility of dairy cows during early and mid-lactation." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science 2007 (April 2007): 55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s175275620001958x.
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Poor reproductive performance is a major problem when considering the sustainability of the modern high yielding dairy cow, with reproductive costs being estimated at £500 million per annum across UK dairy herds (Lamming et al., 1998). Armstrong et al., (2001) stated that poor nutrition causes delayed puberty, aberrant oestrous cycles, lowered conception rates and reduced calf birth weight. Excessive and prolonged negative energy balance (NEB) has, on numerous occasions, been suggested as a major contributor to poor fertility and subsequent increased culling rates. In the present study the effects of a range of dietary treatments on energy balance and reproductive performance were evaluated.
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Russel, A. J. F., I. A. Wright, and E. A. Hunter. "Factors Affecting Reproductive Efficiency in Beef Cows." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1989 (March 1989): 136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600011260.
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Successful and timely rebreeding is of major importance to the economics of suckler cow enterprises. Research into the causes of reprodutive failure and extended calving intervals can be difficult, not least because of the need for experiments involving large numbers of animals if statistically significant treatment effects are to be demonstrated. Useful information however, can be obtained from the analysis of data derived from a number of relatively small-scale experiments, not necessarily on reproduction per se, but in which records of reproductive performance are available.This paper deals with the analysis of data on the reproductive performance of beef cows used in a number of experiments on the effects of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on components of production such as milk yield and composition, calf birth weight and early calf growth rate. The objective of the analysis was to identify the major factors affecting calving interval and to quantify the magnitude of the effects of these factors.
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Keogh, Kate, Stephen P. Coen, Pat Lonergan, Sean Fair, and David A. Kenny. "PSIX-26 Effect of enhanced nutrition during early life on the transcriptional profile of the arcuate nucleus region of the hypothalamus in Holstein Friesian bull calves." Journal of Animal Science 98, Supplement_4 (November 3, 2020): 332–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.591.
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Abstract Improved nutrition and metabolic status during early life are known to advance sexual development in the bull calf. This is mediated through complex neuroendocrine signaling at the level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis resulting in precocious testicular development and spermatogenesis. The arcuate nucleus region (ARC) of the hypothalamus is centrally involved in the integration of peripheral metabolic cues with GnRH neuronal function and gonadotropin pulsatility which in turn stimulate testicular development. However, the precise molecular mechanisms regulating the influence of prevailing nutritional status on hypothalamic function are yet to be fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEG) within the ARC of bull calves offered contrasting planes of nutrition during the first 12 weeks of life, to coincide with the characteristic transient gonadotropin rise. Holstein-Friesian bull calves with a mean (+SD) bodyweight and age of 48.8(5.3) kg and 17.5(2.8) days, respectively, were assigned to either a high energy (H; n = 15) or moderate energy (M; n = 15) plane of nutrition designed for growth rates of 1.0 and 0.5 kg/day, respectively. At 12 weeks of age all calves were euthanized and the ARC harvested. RNA was isolated from all ARC samples and RNAseq analysis conducted. As expected, H calves were heavier at euthanasia (H=112 kg; M=88 kg, P < 0.001). RNAseq analysis resulted in the identification of 83 DEG (P.adj< 0.1; fold change >1.5), all of which were down-regulated in H compared to M calves. DEG were enriched for biological pathways associated with immune function including complement system and acute phase response signaling (P.adj< 0.01). However, no DEG identified were directly involved in reproductive developmental processes. Results from this study suggest that the typically positive effect of enhanced nutrition on reproductive development may not be apparent within the ARC at 12 weeks of age.
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Muller, Jarud, Luis Prada e. Silva, and Geoffry Fordyce. "Milk Delivery in Tropically-Adapted Neonatal Beef Calves." Proceedings 36, no. 1 (March 16, 2020): 126. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036126.
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Across beef breeding herds of northern Australia, poor pre-partum nutrition of cows is consistently associated with increased calf wastage between confirmed pregnancy and weaning. With key nutrients at play (especially energy, protein, phosphorus and water) also being associated with milk yields, a specific problem mediating calf mortality is likely to be low milk production and delivery during the highest-mortality-risk period that is the first week after birth. Recent research demonstrated that milk-deprived newborn calves die of dehydration within 1–3 days. Newborn Brahman and tropical composite calves across three grazing herds (n = 75) and two penned herds (n = 106) were investigated. Calf milk uptake during the first 1–2 days of life was measured by plasma immunoglobulin (IgG) levels and overall milk uptake and health during the first two weeks of life was measured by growth rate from birth. Grazing calves with average IgG levels of 2247, 2508, and 2656 mg/100 mL had respective average growth rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.4 kg/d. Penned calves with average IgG levels of 2064, 2498 and 2504 mg/100 mL had respective average growth rates of 0.6, 1.0, and 1.4 kg/d. The association between calf immunoglobulin uptake and initial growth demonstrates individual variation between tropical beef calves for early milk uptake and that risk factors limiting milk delivery in the first days of life would place calves at greater risk of poor health and mortality.
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Vara, Carina Crizel da, Magali Floriano da Silveira, Ricardo Zambarda Vaz, João Restle, Diego Soares Machado, and Stefani Macari. "Body size in beef cows and its influence on calf production." Semina: Ciências Agrárias 41, no. 6supl2 (November 6, 2020): 3299–310. http://dx.doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2020v41n6supl2p3299.
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Cattle farming becomes more intensive when the productive efficiency of the cows is increased, and nutrition is adjusted to the animal biotype. Eighty purebred Charolais and Nellore cows and their crosses between 3 and 7 years of age, were grouped for body weight at calving into Light (332.6 kg), Moderate (385.3 kg) and Heavy (444.6 kg). Cows and their calves were weighed at calving, at 63 days (early weaning) and at 210 days. The estimated milk production of the cows was evaluated by manual milking at 21, 42 and 63 days postpartum. The difference in the weight of the cows at calving was maintained during lactation and at 210 days postpartum. The body size of the cow did not influence milk production. Heavier cows produce heavier calves up to 365 days of age compared to lighter cows. The reproductive performance of the cows is not affected by their weight. The production of kilograms of calf for every 100 kilograms of cow at calving and weaning is higher in Light cows. The production of kilograms of calf adjusted for the pregnancy rate of the cows is higher in Heavy cows. Production efficiency in kilograms of calf per area is lower in Heavy cows.
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WILTON, J. W., J. McWHIR, G. K. MACLEOD, and G. J. KING. "GENOTYPE-NUTRITION INTERACTION FOR REPRODUCTION OF BEEF COWS." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 67, no. 3 (September 1, 1987): 789–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjas87-081.
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Two levels of feed during early lactation (70 and 100% of NRC requirements) were used for five groups of genotypes (Herefords, small beef breed crosses, large beef breed crosses, small beef by dairy crosses and large beef by dairy crosses). Days to first ovulation (DFO), days to pregnancy (DP) and pregnancy rates were measured over 2 yr. No interaction of feed level by breed group was found for any measure of reproductive performance, milk yield or weaning weight of calf. The lower level of feeding significantly decreased DFO (by 6 d) and DP (by 5 d). Dairy crosses had similar DFO to Hereford, but less than beef crosses. When milk yield and weight were used as covariates, replacing breed group classifications, DFO was found not to be significantly influenced by 6-wk measurements of milk (P = 0.11) nor weight (P = 0.89). Number of days to pregnancy was similarly unaffected by milk yield (P = 0.19), although it was increased by increased weight of cow (P = 0.03). Significant (P < 0.05) differences among breed groups remained after adjustment for weight and milk for DP but not for DFO. More variation was accounted for in DFO (R2 = 0.48) than DP (R2 = 0.20). Repeatability of performance from one year to the next was higher for DFO (0.26 ± 0.13) than for DP (0.00 ± 0.15). Key words: Genotype-nutrition interaction, beef cows, reproduction
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Gutiérrez, V., A. C. Espasandin, A. L. Astessiano, A. Casal, C. López-Mazz, and M. Carriquiry. "Calf foetal and early life nutrition on grazing conditions: metabolic and endocrine profiles and body composition during the growing phase." Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 97, no. 4 (June 20, 2012): 720–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01314.x.
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Jolazadeh, A. R., T. Mohammadabadi, M. Dehghan-banadaky, M. Chaji, and M. Garcia. "Effect of supplementation fat during the last 3 weeks of uterine life and the preweaning period on performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, passive immunity and health of the newborn calf." British Journal of Nutrition 122, no. 12 (September 4, 2019): 1346–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007114519002174.
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AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing essential fatty acids (FA), during late gestation and the preweaning and early weaning periods on passive immunity, growth, health, rumen fermentation parameters, blood metabolites and behaviour of dairy calves. During the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, cattle (n 120), within parity, were randomly assigned to one of three diets with different fat supplements: (a) no supplemental fat (CON), (b) supplement rich in linoleic acid (CSO), or (c) supplement rich in EPA and DHA (CFO). Eighty-four newborn Holstein calves were randomly assigned, within the prepartum diets, to one of two calf starters: no fat supplement (FC-0) or 2 % Ca-salt of unsaturated FA (FC-2). Overall, the interaction between dam diets and calf starters did not affect calf performance or any other parameter measured. Calves born from dams fed fat (CSO or CFO) performed better than calves born from dams fed CON. Namely, calves born from dams fed fat had greater plasma concentrations of IgG (P < 0·01), better apparent efficiency of IgG absorption (P < 0·01) and average daily gain (ADG, 597 v. 558 g/d; P = 0·02), and lower rectal temperature (RT; P < 0·01). Calves fed a calf starter rich in unsaturated FA (FC-2) had greater (P ≤ 0·01) ADG, skeletal growth, feed efficiency, and weaning weight compared with FC-0-fed calves. Furthermore, calves fed FC-2 had lower RT during the pre- and post-weaning periods (P ≤ 0·04) and fewer days with diarrhoea (P < 0·001) compared with calves fed CF-0. Time spent eating, ruminating, standing, lying, and on non-nutritive oral behaviour did not differ by treatment. Similarly, treatments did not affect ruminal fermentation parameters. At 28 and 77 d of age, calves fed CF-2 had higher plasma concentrations of albumin and cholesterol (P ≤ 0·02) and lower urea N compared with calves fed CF-0. Plasma concentrations of alkaline phosphatase were higher in calves fed CF-2 compared with those fed CF-0, when they were 77 d old. These findings support feeding moderate amounts of long-chain PUFA during late uterine life or during the preweaning period have beneficial effects on calf metabolism, growth, and health performance.
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Machado, Vinicius, and Michael Ballou. "100 Management Strategies to Optimize Health and Performance of Pre-weaned Calves." Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_3 (October 8, 2021): 53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.094.
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Abstract In the United States, 1 in each 10 dairy replacement heifers were raised in a calf raising facility, and that at least half of farms with 500 or more lactating animals raised some of their calves in a specialized calf ranch. Approximately 80% of calves are individually housed, but the type of housing (e.g., outside hutch, inside a barn) varies based on location of calf-raising operations. Generally, the benchmark for optimal growth of calves is to double their birth weight by weaning. Such benchmark can only be achieved with consistent management and nutrition. Hence, it is not surprising that in large operations, up to 90% of facilities receive regular visits of both veterinarians and nutritionists. Milk-replacer is fed in more than 80% of operations, while milk (sealable or non-sealable) is fed in approximately 30% of calf raising facilities. Health challenges such as scours, and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) can hinder the performance of calves and are major causes of mortality in calf ranches. In addition to optimal colostrum management, vaccination and early diagnosis/ treatment can prevent major economic losses caused by these diseases. Compared to calves raised in their original dairies, calves raised in off-site operations are exposed to additional stressors that can lead to impairment of their immune system and weaken their resistance against pathogens. For instance, transportation at a very young age and comingling with animals from other dairies can increase the risk of diseases. Current research efforts are focusing in determining individual factors such as body weight at arrival or biomarkers of inflammation and stress that can be predictive of disease morbidity, mortality, and performance of calves. Such information could be used in the future to optimize management and to develop targeted preventative strategies to reduce incidence of diseases and mortality during the pre-weaned period.
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Tsai, Alan C., and Pei-Yu Ku. "Population-specific Mini Nutritional Assessment effectively predicts the nutritional state and follow-up mortality of institutionalized elderly Taiwanese regardless of cognitive status." British Journal of Nutrition 100, no. 1 (July 2008): 152–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007114507873600.
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The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a modified Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for assessing the nutritional status and predicting follow-up mortality of institutionalized elderly Taiwanese. The study was conducted in a large long-term care centre in central Taiwan. Trained interviewers assisted by the caregivers elicited sociodemographic data, healthcare and disease history, and answers to the MNA screen from each subject. One researcher performed all subjects' anthropometric measurements. Plasma albumin and cholesterol concentrations were determined. Results showed that the MNA without BMI, modified according to population-specific mid-arm circumference and calf circumference cut-points, effectively predicted the nutritional risk status of the elderly regardless of cognitive status. Substituting caregiver's assessments for self-viewed nutrition and health status (questions O and P of MNA) improved the predicting power of the tool in cognition-normal subjects. Results showed that 21·9 % of the elderly were malnourished, 59·2 % were at risk of malnutrition and 18·9 % were normal according to self-assessment whereas 14·2 % were malnourished, 59·2 % were at risk of malnutrition, and 26·6 % were normal according to caregiver's evaluation. The tool was also effective in predicting 12- and 6-month follow-up mortality in cognition-normal and cognition-impaired elderly, respectively. Results indicate that a population-specific MNA can effectively predict the nutritional status and 6-month follow-up mortality of elderly Taiwanese regardless of cognitive condition. Easier and wider application of the tool will enable early detection of emerging nutritional problems and timely intervention to prevent the development of severe malnutrition in the elderly.
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Topps, J. H., P. J. Broadbent, J. N. Methu, and B. B. Xaba. "The effect of different distributions of the same total dietary between late pregnancy and early lactation on the performance of twin-bearing suckler cows." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1990 (March 1990): 2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600017864.
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The advent of twinning in suckler cows, through the application of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer techniques has provided a means of increasing the biological efficiency of the suckled calf system of beef production. However, even with improvement in output the need remains for twin-bearing suckler cows to be fed economically. This can be achieved by making effective use of summer and autumn grazing which on most farms provides a high plane of nutrition and allows the cows to increase their body reserves. This generous level of feeding may be followed by more stringent and controlled feeding in winter and early spring, when conserved feeds, grain and by-products are fed. This restriction leads to a reduction in feed costs and also to a depletion of the accumulated resrves.
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Harvey, Kelsey. "101 Awardee Talk: Impacts of Gestational and Early-life Nutrition on Productive Responses of Beef Cattle." Journal of Animal Science 99, Supplement_3 (October 8, 2021): 52–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.093.
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Abstract Nutritional management during gestation as well as postnatally is critical to optimize efficiency and profitability of beef cattle systems. Two experiments were performed evaluating the effects of trace mineral supplementation during gestation and supplementation with calcium salts of soybean oil (CSSO) to nursing beef steers on performance and physiological responses. In experiment one, the impact of inorganic or organic Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn supplementation to beef cows during gestation were evaluated on parameters associated with offspring performance and physiological responses. One hundred and ninety non lactating pregnant beef cows were assigned to the experiment at 117 ± 2.2 days of gestation (d 0) and received diets containing either 1) sulfate sources of Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn (INR), or 2) organic complexed source of Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn (AAC). No treatment differences were detected (P ≥ 0.19) for calf body weight at birth or at weaning. Heifers born to INR cows had delayed puberty attainment (treatment ×day interaction; P < 0.01), whereas no treatment differences were detected (P ≥ 0.24) for carcass traits when male offspring were reared as feeder cattle. In experiment two, the impacts of supplementing CSSO at 2 months of age via creep-feeding and/or postweaning via preconditioning were evaluated on parameters associated carcass quality and development. Steers receiving CSSO at 2 mo of age had greater (P ≤ 0.01) mRNA expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in the longissimus muscle later in life, although no treatment differences were detected for performance or carcass traits (P ≥ 0.18). Outcomes of these experiments may be used to develop nutritional strategies to enhance productive efficiency in beef cattle systems. Research is still warranted to examine the effects of such supplementation during these periods of developmental plasticity on cattle productivity.
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Boadi, Dinah, and M. A. Price. "The effects of pre- and early post-calving management on reproductive performance of beef cows." Canadian Journal of Animal Science 76, no. 3 (September 1, 1996): 337–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjas96-050.
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One hundred and thirty-four pregnant beef cows (liveweight = 544.3 kg ± 73 3 kg SD; condition score = 3.5 ± 0.3 SD), were randomly assigned in January to five management treatments (combinations of feed restriction and weaning time) to study the effects on calving and rebreeding performance. Twenty-seven were feed-restricted (54.7 MJ DE d−1) for the last 3 mo of pregnancy then realimented (3REST); their calves were weaned in October. Thirty were feed-restricted for the last 3 mo of pregnancy (54.7 MJ DE d−1) and the first 2 mo of lactation (99.6 MJ DE d−1), then their calves were weaned and turned out to graze in June (5REST). The remaining 77 cows (UNREST) were supplemented on range with 153.5 MJ DE d−1 from January until calving. Their calves were weaned in either August (one group of 26 calves directly into a feedlot, a second group of 26 onto unsupplemented range) or October (25 calves directly into a feedlot). All cows grazed together on the range from June onwards. After calving, the restricted (3REST and 5REST) cows were significantly lighter (464.4 and 469.5 kg vs. 506.9 kg) and thinner (condition scores 2.5 and 2.6 vs. 3.0) than the UNREST cows, but the percentage of cows calving calf mortality, assisted births calving dates, udder scores and mean birth weight of calves were not affected (P > 0.05) by pre-calving nutrition. Catch-up growth was evident in both the 3REST and 5REST cows once exposed to higher energy feeding. There were no significant effects (P > 0.05) of the management (nutrition and weaning) treatments on the following year s breeding and calving performance. It is concluded that the combinations of nutrition and weaning used in this study did not necessarily impair calving or rebreeding performance of beef cows, which calved in condition score 2.5 or above. Key words: Beef cows, feed restriction, reproduction, condition score, rebreeding, birthweight
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Hennessy, D. W., S. G. Morris, and P. G. Allingham. "Improving the pre-weaning nutrition of calves by supplementation of the cow and/or the calf while grazing low quality pastures. 2. Calf growth, carcass yield and eating quality." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, no. 6 (2001): 715. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea00153.
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Tender, juicy and flavoursome are desirable meat traits in the grading system of Meat Standards Australia. There are 3 critical growth phases affecting these traits in domestic trade cattle: birth to weaning (phase I), weaning to feedlot entry (phase II), and feedlot finishing (phase III). In the study reported in this paper we examined the effects of supplementary feeding of cows and/or calves in phase I on calf growth rate during each of the 3 growth phases and assessed whether differences in early growth were recorded in carcass weights and meat quality at slaughter (16.5 months old). The calves were weaned on to high quality pastures (phase II) and then finished in a feedlot on a grain-based diet (phase III). One-hundred Hereford cows with Angus-sired calves, and 24 Hereford cows, with Hereford-sired calves were allocated to treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial study of calf growth rate during phase I. The treatments consisted of nil or 4.2 kg twice-a-week of cottonseed meal to the cows for 145 days from calving to mid-lactation, and calves either had access to a high protein barley-based supplement in a ‘creep’ from 75, or from 150 days old until weaning. There were 4 replicate groups for each treatment during phase I with 24 paddocks. Weaners were grazed as a single herd during phase II of the study and separated into 10 feedlot pens in phase III. At slaughter, after phase III, M. longissimus et laborum muscle was sampled from half the carcasses and graded by a taste panel according to Meat Standards Australia. Calves, suckled by cottonseed meal-supplemented cows, were heavier at weaning than those calves suckled by non-supplemented cows (201 v. 170 kg; phase I) with a trend for younger calves with access to ‘creep’ feeding (from 75 days old) to be heavier than calves without access to ‘creep’ feed (196 v. 175 kg). During phase II, liveweight change was higher for weaners from non-supplemented cows than for weaners from supplemented cows (679 v. 593 g/day). During phase III this trend was reversed in favour of weaners from cottonseed meal-supplemented cows (1.54 v. 1.46 kg/day). Similarly, carcasses of calves from cottonseed meal-supplemented cows were also heavier than other carcasses from other calves (226 v. 212 kg) with a greater depth of rib fat (7.0 v. 5.8 mm). In contrast to carcass weight, M. longissimus et laborum muscle samples from calves which did not have access to supplement during phase I were assessed as being more tender, more flavoursome and having a higher overall Meat Standards Australia score than M. longissimus et laborum muscle from calves that had access to supplements. The carryover effects of nutrition from the preweaning growth phase of calves highlight the importance of early life nutrition for achieving higher carcass weights and meat quality. However, the findings that M. longissimus et laborum samples from calves with lower growth rates before weaning were more tender and graded higher than samples from calves with higher growth rates was both unexpected and unexplained.
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Dixon, R. M., C. Playford, and D. B. Coates. "Nutrition of beef breeder cows in the dry tropics. 2. Effects of time of weaning and diet quality on breeder performance." Animal Production Science 51, no. 6 (2011): 529. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10083.
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In the seasonally dry tropics the effects of three times of weaning and three nutritional regimes on the changes in liveweight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) of grazing Bos indicus × Bos taurus breeder cows (n = 210) and their calves were examined through an annual cycle, commencing in the early dry season in April 1998. Most of the cows (n = 180) were lactating initially, and were weaned in April (W1), July (W2) or September (W3) to represent the expected early, mid and late dry season. In addition, cows that had not lactated for 11 months before the experiment commenced (NOCALF treatment; n = 30) were examined. The seasonal break occurred in late August, 3.5 months earlier than average for the site. The nutritional regimes consisted of a native pasture (LOW), another native pasture augmented with Stylosanthes spp. legumes (MEDIUM), or this latter pasture supplemented during the dry season with molasses-urea (HIGH). These nutritional regimes were imposed from the commencement of the experiment in April 1998 until February 1999, except that for the HIGH treatment the supplement was fed only during the dry season. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of faeces (F.NIRS) was used to estimate the contents of non-grass, crude protein (CP) and DM digestibility of the diet selected, and also DM intake and metabolisable energy (ME) intake. Diet quality was in accord with the expected seasonal cycle, and was consistently lower (P < 0.05) for the LOW than for the MEDIUM treatment. Concentrations of CP and CP/MJ ME in the diet, and of N in faeces, indicated that the cows grazing the LOW treatment were deficient in rumen degradable protein during the dry season. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between the nutritional regime and the time of weaning on changes in conceptus-free liveweight (CF.LW) or BCS during the dry season. Weaning increased breeder CF.LW, relative to lactating breeders, by 0.42 kg/day in the early dry season (April–July; the difference between the W1 and W2 treatments), and 0.18 kg/day in the usual mid dry season (July–September; the difference between the W2 and W3 treatments). The NOCALF treatment cows were initially 79 kg heavier than lactating cows, and lost more LW during the dry season. Microbial CP synthesis was 21 and 29% greater (P < 0.05) in lactating than in non-lactating cows in the late dry season and shortly after the seasonal break (August and September), respectively. Calf growth was not affected (P > 0.05) by nutritional regime during the early dry season (April–July), but was lower for the LOW nutritional regime during the usual mid dry season (July–September); this indicated that the LOW nutritional regime cows mobilised sufficient additional body reserves to maintain milk production during the former, but not the latter, interval. All cows that were lactating at the commencement of the experiment gained CF.LW rapidly from September 1998 following the seasonal break. In conclusion, although nutrition affected LW change of both cows and calves, there was a much larger effect of weaning than of the nutrition treatments examined on conservation of body reserves in breeder cows during the dry season. The observation that the effects of weaning on conservation of cow body reserves were similar across a wide range of nutrition is important for management to achieve appropriate targets for breeder cow body reserves.
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Diskin, M. G., M. Grealy, and J. M. Sreenan. "Effect of body condition score at calving and suckling frequency on post-partum interval in suckler cows." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1992 (March 1992): 67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600021851.
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The interval from calving to first oestrus (post-partum interval) is an important determinant of reproductive efficiency in suckler cows. While this interval is influenced by a range of factors including cow age, breed, presence of bull, cow-calf interactions and disease, the most important factors are suckling (frequency / number of calves) and nutrition (pre- and post-partum nutrient intake, body condition at calving and during early lactation). The mechanisms by which these factors, either independently or interactively, affect the length of the anoestrous period are unclear. Similarly, the time post-partum at which suckling exerts its effect on resumption of cyclicity is unknown. The effects of body condition score at calving and of changing the frequency of suckling on the length of the post-partum interval were determined. Preliminary results are presented.
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Crête, Michel, and Jean Huot. "Regulation of a large herd of migratory caribou: summer nutrition affects calf growth and body reserves of dams." Canadian Journal of Zoology 71, no. 11 (November 1, 1993): 2291–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z93-321.
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The range used for calving and for the first month of lactation by the Rivière George Caribou Herd (RGH), which peaked at over 600 000 individuals in the mid-eighties, showed signs of overgrazing, in contrast to that used by the adjacent Rivière aux Feuilles Herd. Density of females in the tundra habitat below 600 m asl averaged 11.2 animals/km2 on the overgrazed range in 1988, in comparison with ≈0.5/km2 on the other range. Inadequate foraging conditions during the first month of lactation caused complete exhaustion of fat reserves in females on the poor range; milk production was seemingly insufficient, as calves were lighter and grew at a slower rate than calves born on the better summer range or born in captivity from dams fed ad libitum. Moreover, females on the poor range were shorter and lighter than their counterparts on the good range, illustrating that priority goes to reproduction rather than to growth under suboptimal foraging conditions. Accretion of body fat and protein in RGH females was rapid in autumn, but individuals with a calf at yield accumulated smaller fat reserves than nonreproductive adult females. Condition did not affect ovulation. However, interruption of gestation was suspected in females that were unable to accumulate enough body reserves in autumn or early winter, judging from the progressive decline in the pregnancy rate and in the autumn cow:calf ratio observed for the RGH since 1984, concomitant with the levelling off of the herd. Summer nutrition seemingly regulated the RGH through a combination of decreased fecundity and survival.
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Cardoso, Rodolfo C., and Gary L. Williams. "33 Nutritional programming of puberty in Bos indicus-influenced heifers." Journal of Animal Science 97, Supplement_3 (December 2019): 36–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz258.072.
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Abstract Approximately 5 million beef heifers enter the U.S. cow herd annually and their lifetime productivity is heavily-dependent upon their ability to attain puberty and produce a calf by 24 mo of age. However, a significant proportion of heifers within existing U.S. production systems fail to achieve these goals, particularly in southern regions where Bos indicus-influenced cattle predominate. Therefore, approaches are needed that facilitate nutritional programming of the reproductive neuroendocrine axis, while minimizing feeding costs and optimizing the consistent establishment of puberty by 14–15 mo of age. Increased BW gain between 4 and 9 mo of age facilitates pubertal development by programming hypothalamic centers that regulate GnRH secretion. Among the different metabolic hormones, leptin plays a critical role in conveying nutritional information to the brain and controlling puberty. Two hypothalamic neuronal populations that express the orexigenic peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the anorexigenic peptide alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH) are key components of afferent pathways that convey inhibitory (NPY) and excitatory (αMSH) inputs to GnRH neurons. Our studies have demonstrated that short-term increases in dietary energy intake during juvenile development result in epigenetic, structural, and functional modifications in these hypothalamic pathways to promote high-frequency, episodic release of GnRH/LH. However, integrating the foundational knowledge of metabolic imprinting of the brain for early puberty with issues related to lifetime performance is complex. One approach has been to employ a novel stair-step nutritional regimen involving alternating periods of dietary energy-restriction and re-feeding during juvenile development. This approach is designed to support early onset of puberty by imprinting functional alterations in the hypothalamus during key periods of brain development while optimizing other aspects of growth and performance. Finally, our recent findings suggest that maternal nutrition during gestation can also induce neuroendocrine changes that are likely to persist and influence reproductive performance throughout adulthood in cattle.
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Copping, K. J., J. Hernandez-Medrano, A. Hoare, K. Hummitzsch, I. C. McMillen, J. L. Morrison, R. J. Rodgers, and V. E. A. Perry. "Maternal periconceptional and first trimester protein restriction in beef heifers: effects on placental parameters and fetal and neonatal calf development." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 32, no. 5 (2020): 495. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd19017.
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Few studies have investigated the effects of nutrition during the periconception and early gestation periods on fetal and placental development in cattle. In this study, nulliparous yearling heifers (n=360) were individually fed a diet high or low in protein (HPeri and LPeri) beginning 60 days before conception. From 24 to 98 days after conception, half of each treatment group was changed to the alternative high- or low-protein diet (HPost and LPost) yielding four groups in a 2×2 factorial design. A subset of heifers (n=46) was necropsied at 98 days after conception and fetoplacental development assessed. Placentome number and volume decreased in response to LPeri and LPost diets respectively. Absolute lung, pancreas, septum and ventricle weights decreased in LPost versus HPost fetuses, whereas the post-conception diet altered absolute and relative liver and brain weights depending on sex. Similarly, changes in fetal hepatic gene expression of factors regulating growth, glucose output and lipid metabolism were induced by protein restriction in a sex-specific manner. At term, neonatal calf and placental measures were not different. Protein restriction of heifers during the periconception and early gestation periods alters fetoplacental development and hepatic gene expression. These changes may contribute to functional consequences for progeny, but this may not be apparent from gross morphometry at birth.
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Cardoso, Rodolfo C., and Gary L. Williams. "205 Neuroendocrine pathways and the nutritional control of puberty in heifers." Journal of Animal Science 97, Supplement_2 (July 2019): 119–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz122.211.
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Abstract Approximately 5 million beef heifers enter the U.S. cow herd annually, and their lifetime productivity is heavily-dependent upon their ability to attain puberty and produce a calf by 24 mo of age. However, a significant proportion of heifers within existing U.S. production systems fail to achieve these objectives. Therefore, approaches are needed that facilitate nutritional programming of the reproductive neuroendocrine axis, while minimizing feeding costs and optimizing the consistent establishment of puberty by 14–15 mo of age. Accelerated rates of BW gain during early calfhood, particularly between 4 and 9 mo of age, facilitate pubertal development by programming hypothalamic centers that regulate GnRH secretion. Among the different metabolic hormones, leptin plays a critical role in conveying nutritional information to the brain and controlling pubertal progression. Two hypothalamic neuronal populations that express the orexigenic peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the anorexigenic peptide alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH) are key components of afferent pathways that convey inhibitory (NPY) and excitatory (αMSH) inputs to GnRH neurons. Our studies have demonstrated that short-term increases in dietary energy intake during juvenile development result in epigenetic, structural, and functional modifications in these hypothalamic pathways to promote high-frequency, episodic release of GnRH/LH. However, integrating the foundational knowledge of metabolic imprinting of the brain for early puberty with issues related to lifetime performance is complex. One approach has been to employ a novel stair-step nutritional regimen involving alternating periods of dietary energy-restriction and re-feeding during juvenile development. This approach is designed to support early onset of puberty by imprinting genomic, biochemical and morphologic alterations in the hypothalamus during key periods of brain development while optimizing other aspects of growth and performance. Finally, our recent findings suggest that maternal nutrition during gestation can also induce neuroendocrine changes that are likely to persist long after puberty and influence reproductive performance throughout adulthood in cattle.
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Noya, Agustí, Isabel Casasús, Javier Ferrer, and Albina Sanz. "Effects of Developmental Programming Caused by Maternal Nutrient Intake on Postnatal Performance of Beef Heifers and Their Calves." Animals 9, no. 12 (December 3, 2019): 1072. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9121072.
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In this study, we evaluated the effects of maternal subnutrition in early pregnancy on the growth and reproductive performance of female offspring during their rearing, first gestation, and lactation. We inseminated 21 Parda and 15 Pirenaica multiparous cows and assigned them to a CONTROL (100% of nutrition requirements) or SUBNUT (65%) diet until day 82 of gestation. Cows were fed 100% requirements afterward. During the rearing of female offspring, growth, physiological profiles and ovarian follicular dynamic were studied. At 16 months old, heifers were inseminated. After first calving, dam–calf weights were recorded during lactation. Heifers born from CONTROL cows were heavier at weaning (four months old) than heifers born from SUBNUT cows, but this difference disappeared at the end of rearing and during the first gestation and lactation periods. All heifers reached puberty at a similar age and live weight. During rearing, SUBNUT heifers had higher concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, urea, and cholesterol and a lower antral follicle count than CONTROL, but no difference was found in their fertility rate. After heifer first calving, dam–calf weights were similar among groups. In conclusion, maternal undernutrition reduced offspring postnatal gains at weaning, compromising metabolic status and follicle population during rearing but did not impair performance in the first gestation and lactation periods of beef heifers.
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Jolly, PD, CS McSweeney, AC Schlink, EM Houston, and KW Entwistle. "Reducing post-partum anoestrous interval in first-calf Bos indicus crossbred beef heifers. III. Effect of nutrition on responses to weaning and associated variation in metabolic hormone levels." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, no. 6 (1996): 927. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9960927.
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Interactions between effects of undernutrition and weaning on the duration of post-partum anoestrus and associated variation in milk yield, suckling behaviour, and metabolic hormone levels in Droughtmaster [Bos indicus x Bos taurus (518, 3/8)] first-calf cows were studied in 2 successive years. Low body condition score at calving (3.5f 0.1, scale 1-9) was associated with prolonged post-partum anoestrous intervals in suckled cows, but provided cows were maintaining liveweight, ovarian cyclicity resumed within 50 days if calves were weaned 70 days post-partum. This response to weaning was totally inhibited in cows that calved in low body condition that lost liveweight post-partum (Year 1). In contrast, marked levels of post-partum liveweight loss (23%) did not affect resumption of ovarian cyclicity in response to weaning (at 50 days post-parturn), or time to conception, among cows that calved with high body condition scores (5.8 � 0.2, Year 2). Reduced milk yields and calf weight gains among underfed cows were associated with higher suckling frequencies and durations ( P < 0.05). Acyclic interval after weaning was negatively related to body condition score at weaning (P < 0.01), and positively related to preweaning suckling intensity (P < 0.01). The time taken to resume ovarian cyclicity after weaning increased by a factor of 1.2 for every half unit decrease in body condition score at weaning, and by a factor of 1.3 for every 30-min increase in time suckled per day prior to weaning. Within level of nutrition, higher frequencies and durations of suckling were associated with higher plasma prolactin levels. Plasma IGF-1 levels were consistently depressed in underfed cows, whereas plasma insulin and GH levels were less affected by nutritional treatments. Effects of undernutrition in suckled cows appear to operate at least partly through interactions with milk yield and suckling intensity. Management of post-partum anoestrus in Bos indicus cows should focus on the conservation of cow body condition and on the strategic use of early weaning.
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Lindley, George, Richard Booth, Sophie Mahendran, Claire Wathes, and Nicola Blackie. "Colostrum quality and composition." Livestock 28, no. 1 (January 2, 2023): 6–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/live.2023.28.1.6.
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Colostrum, the first milk produced by the cow before calving, is functionally and compositionally distinct from whole milk. Differences in fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and mineral concentrations provide nutrition for the neonate. A high lipid content is an indispensable source of energy, while protein aids development and vitamins and minerals that are poorly transferred across the placenta can be provided orally. Immunoglobulins within colostrum are essential for the transfer of passive immunity, since the calf is born agammaglobulinaemic. Biologically active factors, including antimicrobial compounds, hormones, growth factors and immune-enhancing compounds, may contribute to immune development, intestinal growth and energy metabolism after birth. Bioactive substances may also direct the maturation of specific tissues via epigenetic effects that occur after parturition has occurred. An appreciation of the differences between colostrum and milk composition may be useful for all stakeholders interested in optimising early life feeding regimens for neonatal calves.
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Kuvibidila, Solo R., Maria Velez, Lolie Yu, Raj P. Warrier, and B. Surendra Baliga. "Differences in iron requirements by concanavalin A-treated and anti-CD3-treated murine splenic lymphocytes." British Journal of Nutrition 88, no. 1 (July 2002): 67–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/bjn2002576.
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Fe availability is critical for optimal lymphocyte proliferation; however, the minimum required levels are unknown. Such information is valuable when assessingin vitroimmune responses in Fe-deficient subjects, because serum (Fe) added to the culture medium may replete lymphocytes. To address this issue, splenic lymphocytes obtained from seventeen 3-month-old C57BL/6 mice were incubated without and with 1 mg/l concanavalin A or 50 μg/l anti-CD3 antibody in media that contained between 0·113 and 9·74 μmol Fe/l. Fe was provided by either fetal calf serum (FCS, 0–100 ml/l), newborn calf serum (NBCS, 0–100 ml/l), or NBCS (10 ml/l) plus ferric ammonium citrate. As expected, the rate of DNA synthesis increased with Fe levels (P<0·01). Maximum DNA synthesis was obtained with 2·26 μmol Fe/l (50 ml FCS/l) for concanavalin A and 0·895 μmol/l (20 ml FCS/l) for anti-CD3-treated cells. In serum-free media (0·113 μmol Fe/l), the proliferative responses to concanavalin A were below the background, while they rose 5·5-fold in anti-CD3-treated cells (P<0·05). In apotransferrin-supplemented media (0·13 μmol Fe/l), the proliferative responses to concanavalin A and anti-CD3 antibody were 18·6 and 71 %, respectively, of that obtained with 4·66 μmol Fe/l (100 ml FCS/l). Interleukin 2 secretion also followed the same trend as lymphocyte proliferation. Since differences between both mitogens persisted after FCS was substituted with NBCS, we can rule out an effect on ribonucleotide reductase activity, or by other serum growth factors. We speculate an Fe effect at an early step of T-cell activation. Data suggest that the minimum Fe concentration required for lymphocyte proliferation varies with the mitogen.
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Yu Zavalishina, S. "Physiological changes in the blood of calves by plant food when using Katozal." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 839, no. 4 (September 1, 2021): 042023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/839/4/042023.
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Abstract An increase in livestock productivity is closely linked to an increase in calf vitality. This can be achieved using a number of approaches, including through the use of a number of biological stimulants in calves. The effectiveness of their use can be determined during the assessment of the main hematological parameters. As a result of 7 courses of daily use of 15.0 ml of Katozal plant nutrition in calves per animal, physiologically optimal changes in blood parameters were achieved. The results obtained as a result of regular injections of Katozal are regarded as highly physiologically beneficial for increasing the viability of animals and increasing their productive potential. The achieved dynamics of hematological parameters can be considered as a marker of the formation in the body of calves under the influence of Katozal of the situation, contributing to a pronounced increase in the processes of anabolism. The use of the drug Katozal is very promising for biological stimulation of calves at the end of early ontogenesis.
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Baumgaertner, Friederike, Sarah R. Underdahl, Kacie L. McCarthy, Ana Clara B. Menezes, Wellison Jarles da Silva Diniz, Alison K. Ward, Kevin K. Sedivec, et al. "187 Effects of energy supplementation during early gestation in beef heifers on body weight, concentrations of IGF-1, and calf characteristics." Journal of Animal Science 98, Supplement_4 (November 3, 2020): 163–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.299.
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Abstract Objectives were to evaluate effects of early gestation energy supplementation on heifer body weight (BW), IGF-1 concentrations, and calf characteristics. One-hundred Angus-based heifers (initial BW = 371.1 ± 3.9 kg) were estrous synchronized, bred to female-sexed semen, then randomly assigned to either a basal diet to achieve 0.20 kg/d (CON, n = 50) or a basal diet plus supplemental energy to achieve 0.75 kg/d gain (SUPP, n = 50) for 84 d. The CON diet consisted of 37% corn silage, 53% prairie hay, and 10% distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS). The SUPP diet was 29% corn silage, 41% prairie hay, 5% DDGS, and 25% corn/PurinaAccuration Range Supplement 33 blend. Heifers were individually fed via Insentec feeders (Insentec Marknesse, The Netherlands), with bi-weekly feed delivery adjustments to achieve targeted gains. After d 84, heifers were managed as a single group on pasture, then in a dry lot until parturition. A total of 46 heifers gestated female pregnancies to term (n = 23 CON and n = 23 SUPP). Body weights and blood samples were collected on d 0, 42, 84, 162, 234, 262, and at parturition. By design, SUPP heifers were 55.4 kg heavier (P < 0.0001) than CON at d 84. Weight divergence remained throughout gestation, with SUPP heifers being 41.5 kg heavier at parturition (P < 0.0001). For SUPP, IGF-1 concentrations were greater throughout gestation (P = 0.003). Fetal size, as measured by ultrasound, was not affected by treatment at d 42 (P = 0.50), 63 (P = 0.35), or 84 (P = 0.20); however, calves from SUPP dams were 2.1 kg heavier (P = 0.03) and had larger chest circumference (P = 0.05) at birth compared with CON. Early gestation nutrition impacted heifer BW and IGF-1 concentrations throughout gestation, and clearly impacted in utero fetal growth.
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Allingham, Peter G., Gregory S. Harper, David W. Hennessy, and V. Hutton Oddy. "The influence of pre-weaning nutrition on biochemical and myofibre characteristics of bovine semitendinosus muscle." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, no. 9 (2001): 891. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar00162.
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This study investigates pre-weaning growth of cattle and its effect on biochemical and histochemical markers of muscle development and subsequent biophysical attributes of eating quality. Combinations of cow (late pregnancy to mid-lactation) and pre-weaning (varying duration of access to a high-energy ration) supplementation were used to vary calf growth to weaning in 6 treatment groups. After weaning, calves were grazed together on pasture (backgrounding) and then grown rapidly on a feedlot ration (finishing) until slaughter. Biochemical and myofibre characteristics were determined in semitendinosus muscle samples collected just prior to weaning (7 months), at the end of backgrounding (13 months), and at slaughter (17 months). The concentration of sarcoplasmic protein and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in the muscle at weaning were associated with differences in pre-weaning growth and both variables correlated positively with liveweight at weaning. Isocitrate dehydrogenase activity varied with sex, not treatment, at weaning and at the end of backgrounding. The size of myofibres at weaning related to differences in growth path and correlated positively with liveweight. Pre-weaning growth effects on these characteristics were not evident at slaughter. Biophysical properties of the meat were not affected by earlier growth path treatment, and were not correlated with biochemical characteristics or myofibre type profile. Variation in both shear peak force and adhesion was related to sex. We conclude that the effects of divergent early life growth do not persist 10 months after weaning, at least in meat quality characteristics.
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Russel, A. J. F., and P. J. Broadbent. "Nutritional needs of cattle in the hills and uplands." BSAP Occasional Publication 10 (1985): 55–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0263967x00030743.
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AbstractSystems of management of beef cows in the hills and uplands seek to make use of the cow's ability to utilise body tissue to maintain production during periods of undernutrition in winter and to replenish body reserves from relatively inexpensive summer grazing.In spring-calving cows, the periods of winter undernutrition occur during late pregnancy and the early months of lactation. On upland farms, cows with adequate body reserves (condition score 3.5) at the beginning of winter, fed less than 50 MJ ME per day during the final 3 months of gestation and 70 MJ ME per day during the first 2 months of lactation, will lose about 1.5 units of body condition but such a regime will not necessarily result in biologically significant production penalties. Fertilised ryegrass swards maintained at 8 cm sward surface height during the grazing season will support levels of milk production of around 11 kg per day, calf growth rates of the order of 1.2 kg per day and allow full recovery of cow body weight and condition. In hill herds, the magnitude of losses in weight and condition over winter must be restricted to the extent of the recovery which the quality of summer grazing will support.Similar considerations apply in autumn-calving herds, where the greater part or all of lactation coincides with the period of winter feeding. Cows calving at a body condition score of 3.0 can be fed 75 MJ ME per day from before to one month after mating without prejudicing reproductive performance, and 60-65 MJ ME per day from then until turnout. Where good quality pasture is available, milk production will increase from around 5 to more than 9 kg per day following turnout, calf performance will be enhanced by delaying weaning and cows will recover in full the weight and condition lost during winter. In the hill situation, calves may require to be weaned at turnout if full cow recovery is to be achieved.Studies on the nutrition of the weaned suckled calf indicate that a policy of feeding weaned calves inexpensively during winter to gain between 0.3 and 0.5 kg per day may constitute a viable alternative to the traditional practice of selling calves in the autumn. Such animals will achieve significantly higher growth rates at pasture in the following summer than calves fed more generously and gaining weight more rapidly during winter.On some hill farms where opportunities for the conservation of winter fodder are limited but where there is plentiful summer grazing, a system of June calving followed by a short lactation, and in which calves are only very moderately fed over winter, merits consideration.The areas in which further research is most urgently required to effect significant improvements in efficiency are those concerned with the relationship between nutrition and reproductive efficiency and the induction of twinning in cows.
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Nowak, Włodzimierz, Robert Mikuła, Małgorzata Kasprowicz-Potocka, Marta Ignatowicz, Andrzej Zachwieja, Katarzyna Paczyńska, and Ewa Pecka. "Effect of Cow Nutrition in the Far-off Period on Colostrum Quality and Immune Response of Calves." Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy 56, no. 2 (June 1, 2012): 241–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10213-012-0043-z.
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Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the limitation of energy intake by restrictive dry matter intake in the faroff part (from -56 d to -22 d) of dry period on the colostrum quality and the calf immunological status. Thirty-eight Polish Holstein- Friesian Black and White multiparous cows and their calves were randomly allotted to one of the two dietary treatments in the far-off period. In group ADLIB, diet was offered ad libitum (2.0% body weight), while in group REST, dry matter intake was restricted to 1.5% of body weight. Lowered feed intake in the far-off period did not have a statistically significant influence on the quality of colostrum. On the 3rd d of calves’ life, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins, albumins, globulins, total protein, and IGF-1 were not affected by treatments of dam in the far-off period. The concentrations of total Ig and G and A immunoglobulins of 21-day-old calves from cows fed ad libitum during the far-off period was found to be significantly lower compared to REST group. No significant differences in birth weight and growth rate during the first 21 d of life were found. Limiting maternal diet in far-off period did not affect negatively colostrum quality and calves` immune response during early stages of their life.
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Martorell, Reynaldo. "History and Design of the INCAP Longitudinal Study (1969-1977) and Its Impact in Early Childhood." Food and Nutrition Bulletin 41, no. 1_suppl (June 2020): S8—S22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0379572120906062.
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The Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) longitudinal study of 1969 to 1977 was a community randomized trial in which 2 pairs of matched villages received either a protein-rich gruel ( atole) or a nonprotein, low-energy drink ( fresco). Both contained equal amounts of micronutrients by volume. I review the history and design of the study and impact on dietary intakes and physical growth. The design dates from the 1960s when protein was seen as the main dietary deficiency. During the 1970s, emphasis shifted to energy deficiency and this influenced early analyses. Energy from the 2 drinks during pregnancy was associated with improved birthweights and whether protein was also provided along with energy appeared to make no difference. These analyses, observational in nature, were possible because there was substantial overlap in energy intakes from the supplements during pregnancy across village types. In children, analyses initially focused on energy but eventually relied on the original experimental design. Exposure to the atole compared to fresco was associated with improved physical growth at 3 years of age but not from 3 to 7 years. Consumption of the fresco in the first 3 years of life was low such that there was little overlap in energy intakes from the supplements, not allowing for the type of analyses done for pregnancy. Diets in atole villages were greater from 15 to 36 months in protein, energy, and micronutrients, making attribution of impact on growth to a specific nutrient impossible. The atole improved linear growth, arm, and calf circumferences at 3 years but not skinfold thicknesses.
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Dixon, R. M., C. Playford, and D. B. Coates. "Nutrition of beef breeder cows in the dry tropics. 1. Effects of nitrogen supplementation and weaning on breeder performance." Animal Production Science 51, no. 6 (2011): 515. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10082.
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The effects of two dry season management strategies consisting of timing of weaning and/or nitrogen (N) supplementation on the body reserves, nutritional status and reproductive performance were, commencing in the early dry season, examined in Bos indicus × Bos taurus breeder cows (n = 122) grazing native pasture in the seasonally dry tropics. Cows were early-weaned in April in the early dry season or late-weaned in September in the late dry season. The supplement consisted of loose mineral mix which provided on average 14 g N/day, principally as non-protein N. In the early dry season in April 1997 all of the cows had been lactating for 3–5 months, averaged 363 kg (s.d. = 28) conceptus-free liveweight (CF.LW) and 4.7 (s.d. = 0.6) body condition score (9-point scale), and 53% were pregnant. In addition, from April to June 1997 10/26 non-pregnant lactating cows, and 24/31 non-pregnant non-lactating (i.e. early-weaned) cows became pregnant so that 81% of cows were pregnant by June. Predictions of diet from near-infrared spectroscopy of faeces indicated that the forage diet selected during the dry season (April–November) by the cows contained on average 9% (s.d. = 2) non-grass dicotyledonous plants and 4.4% (s.d. = 0.38) crude protein (CP), while DM digestibility was 51.1% (s.d. = 1.3). The diet CP concentration, the ratio of CP to metabolisable energy (ME) in the diet (mean 5.7, s.d. = 0.53, g CP/MJ ME) and faecal N concentration (mean 1.05, s.d. = 0.097, % N) all indicated that unsupplemented cows were deficient in dietary N during the dry season. Microbial CP synthesis in unsupplemented non-lactating cows decreased from 360 to 107 g microbial CP/day, or from 6.5 to 2.4 g microbial CP/MJ ME intake, as the dry season progressed from May to September 1997. Net endogenous N transfer to the rumen of up to 2 g CP/MJ ME apparently occurred from May to August. Microbial CP synthesis was 25% higher (P < 0.001) in lactating than in non-lactating cows. From April to September cow CF.LW was improved by 0.35 kg/day (P < 0.001) by early weaning, and by 0.11 kg/day (P < 0.10) by N supplementation, but there was no interaction (P > 0.10) between these treatments. From April to June 1997 calf LW gain averaged 0.79 kg/day, but from June to September was only 0.10 kg/day in unsupplemented paddocks and 0.13 kg/day in N-supplemented paddocks. Pregnant cows calved from November 1997 to March 1998. During subsequent mating 96% of non-lactating cows, but only 17% of lactating cows became pregnant. During the 1997–98 wet season there was compensatory LW gain of lower CF.LW non-lactating cows but not of lactating cows. In conclusion, weaning early in the dry season had a much greater effect than a non-protein N-based supplement to conserve breeder cow body reserves, and the effects of the two management strategies were additive.
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Breier, B. H., P. D. Gluckman, and J. J. Bass. "Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in the infant calf: ontogeny and influence of altered nutrition." Journal of Endocrinology 119, no. 1 (October 1988): 43–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1190043.
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ABSTRACT The developmental pattern of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin in calves subject to different patterns of weaning was investigated from birth until the age of 6 months. Fifteen male Friesian calves were fed on whole milk (10% of body weight per day) for the first 8 weeks after birth, then allocated into three balanced groups. Group 1 was weaned at 8 weeks; group 2 was weaned at 8 weeks, returned to milk-feeding at 13 weeks to be weaned again at the age of 16 weeks; group 3 was weaned at 12 weeks. After weaning the calves were fed on concentrates and lucerne hay. At birth, circulating concentrations of IGF-I correlated with birth weight (r = 0·78, P< 0·001). There was a significant (P<0·001) fall in plasma IGF-I from birth (40·3 ± 2·5 μg/l) until 5 weeks (23·8± 1·3 μg/l), and then a gradual (P<0·01) rise until week 8 (35·0 ± 2·2 μg/l). Weaning (groups 1 and 2 after week 8) caused a significant (P<0·01) decrease in plasma IGF-I (20·5 ± 1·9 μg/l); thereafter plasma levels of IGF-I rose gradually (P<0·01) in animals fed on concentrates. The milk-fed calves (group 3) showed a progressive increase in plasma IGF-I with age until they were weaned at 12 weeks (51·0 ± 3·4 μg/l); IGF-I levels then decreased to be similar to group 1 (32·5 ± 2·1 μg/l). When group 2 was returned to milk-feeding, plasma IGF-I concentrations increased to 58·2 ±3·8 μg/l within 4 days and then continued to rise gradually until decreasing upon weaning. The age-related increase in the plasma concentration of IGF-I after 6 weeks was parallel in milk- and concentrate-fed calves. Binding of 125I-labelled bovine GH to hepatic membranes of neonatal calves was low at birth (specific binding; 1·56 ±0·29% n=3). Somatotrophic binding was apparent at 6 weeks (6·43 ±0·42%, n = 3) and increased (9·2± 1·1%, n=3) at the age of 12 weeks. Thus the early postnatal changes in plasma IGF-I may reflect the transition from GH-independent to GH-dependent IGF-I secretion. Plasma concentrations of insulin at birth correlated with IGF-I (r = 0·54, P<0·05). However, regression analysis suggested no effect of insulin on birth weight independent of IGF-I. Plasma insulin levels rose gradually until weaning and thereafter were significantly (P<0·01) higher in the milk- than concentratefed calves. Major changes in plasma concentrations of IGF-I related to monogastric (milk feeding) or ruminant (concentrate feeding) nutrition of the young calf are demonstrated. They may be mediated through changing plasma insulin concentrations. An age-dependent prepubertal rise in plasma IGF-I apparently independent of nutritional factors commenced with the appearance of functional somatotrophic receptors in the liver. J. Endocr. (1988) 119, 43–50
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Whittier, J. C., D. C. Clanton, and G. H. Deutscher. "Effect of post-partum levels of nutrition on productivity of 2-year-old heifers." Animal Science 47, no. 1 (August 1988): 59–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0003356100037053.
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AbstractForty crossbred heifers, mated to one sire, that calved in a 20-day period were used to study the effect of varying time and level of post-partum nutrition on productivity. Heifers were individually fed for 90 days post partum beginning at parturition: (1) proportionately 1·3 National Research Council (NRC) 1984 recommendations for 45 days followed by 0·7 NRC for 45 days (130·70); (2) 1·0 NRC for 90 days (100·100); and (3) 0·7 NRC for 45 days followed by 1·3 NRC for 45 days (70·130). Milk production, growth and body condition were estimated periodically during the lactation. The 130·70 heifers maintained their weight during the first 45 days of lactation, while the 100·100 and the 70·130 heifers lost weight (−0·33 and 0·60 kg/day, respectively). During the second 45-day period, the 100·100 and 70·130 heifers gained weight (0·24 and 0·72 kg/day, respectively) while the 130·70 heifers lost weight (−0·39 kg/day). Visual condition scores paralleled weight changes during both phases of the feeding period. Milk production varied according to nutrient intake and treatment differences were greatest at 45 days post partum (8·1, 7·3 and 6·1 kg/day for 130·70, 100·100 and 70·130, respectively). Calf weight gains were unaffected by dam nutrition. Days to first oestrus, days to conception or services per conception were not significantly different (P > 0·05) among treatment groups. Based on this experiment, neither of the alternate feeding systems resulted in decreased performance when compared with feeding at a constant level. Therefore, it appears that latitude exists in the way heifers can be fed early in their first lactation, without adversely affecting production.