ARS | Publication request: NUTRITIONALLY INDUCED GROWTH PATTERN CHANGES OF PREGNANT HEIFERS AND SUBSEQUENT CHANGES IN BODY WEIGHTS AND DRY MATTER INTAKE

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 11, 2002
Publication Date: July 22, 2002
Citation: Freetly, H.C., Ferrell, C.L., Jenkins, T.G. 2002. Nutritionally induced growth pattern changes of pregnant heifers and subsequent changes in body weights and dry matter intake [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 80(Suppl. 1):41-42.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of altering the amount of feed provided at different periods of pregnancy and lactation on the efficiency of feed utilization for calf production. MARC III heifers (n=128) were individually fed a corn silage-based ration (2.39 Mcal ME/kg DM). Heifers were allocated to three treatments that varied in the timing that dry matter was offered. Dry matter intakes from 94 through 186 d of gestation were M-M-M-M 674+/-4 kg, L-H-M-M 521+/-5 kg, and L-L-L-H 523+/-5 kg. Dry matter intakes from 187 d of gestation to parturition were M-M-M-M 817+/-9 kg, L-H-M-M 938+/-12 kg, and L-L-L-H 679+/-8 kg. Dry matter intakes from parturition through 27 d postpartum were M-M-M-M 260+/-4 kg, L-H-M-M 264+/-3 kg, and L-L-L-H 220+/-3 kg. Dry matter intakes from 28 through 66 d postpartum were M-M-M-M 385+/-5 kg, L-H-M-M 377+/-6 kg, and L-L-L-H 528+/-10 kg. At 187 d of gestation, BW of L-H-M-M (n=40; 448+/-6 kg) and L-L-L-H heifers (n=43; 447+/-6 kg) did not differ (P=0.83), but was less than M-M-M-M heifers (P<0.001; n=45; 478+/-5 kg). At parturition, BW of M-M-M-M (472+/-5 kg) and L-H-M-M heifers (466+/-5 kg) did not differ (P=0.43), but was greater than L-L-L-H heifers (P<0.001; 436+/-5 kg). Birth weight of M-M-M-M (31.6+/-0.6 kg) and L-H-M-M calves (31.8+/-0.8 kg) did not differ (P=0.91), but was greater than L-L-L-H calves (P<0.001; 28.3+/-0.6 kg). Twenty-eight days postpartum, BW of M-M-M-M (n=43; 470+/-5 kg) and L-H-M-M heifers (n=40; 463+/-5 kg) did not differ (P=0.35), but was greater than the L-L-L-H heifers (P<0.001; n=42; 432+/-5 kg). At 28 d of age, BW of M-M-M-M (56+/-1 kg) and L-H-M-M calves (57+/-1 kg) did not differ (P=0.49), but was greater than L-L-L-H calves (P<0.001; 50+/-1 kg). At 66.2+/-0.3 d postpartum (n=124), BW of heifers (P=0.51; 461+/-3 kg) and calves (P=0.29; 80+/-1 kg) did not differ among treatments. We interpret these results to suggest that nutritionally altering patterns of nutrient supply can be used as a viable management tool for decreasing feed cost.