Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180524
Title: BODY CONDITION SCORE AT PERTURITION AND POST PARTUM SUPPLEMENTAL FAT EFFECTS ON COW AND CALF PERFORMANCE

Author
item LAKE, SCOTT - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item Scholljegerdes, Eric
item ATKINSON, REBECCA - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item NAYIGIHUGU, VONDRAND - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item PAISLEY, STEVE - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item RULE, DAN - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item MOSS, GARY - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item ROBINSON, TIMOTHY - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item HESS, BRET - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2005
Publication Date: 9/8/2005
Citation: Lake, S.L., Scholljegerdes, E.J., Atkinson, R., Nayigihugu, V., Paisley, S., Rule, D., Moss, G., Robinson, T., Hess, B. 2005. Body condition score at perturition and post partum supplemental fat effects on cow and calf perfornamnce. J. Anim. Sci. 83:2908-2917.

Interpretive Summary: Three-year-old Angus ×· Gelbvieh beef cows nutritionally managed to achieve a body condition score (BCS) of 4 (Body weight = 479.3 kg) or 6 (Body weight 579.6 kg) at parturition were used in a 2-yr experiment (36 animals/yr) to determine the effects of prepartum energy status and postpartum lipid supplementation on cow and calf performance. Beginning 3 days after calving, cows within each body condition score were randomly assigned to be fed hay and a low-fat control supplement or supplements with either high-linoleate cracked safflower seeds or high-oleate cracked safflower seeds until day 60 of lactation. Rations were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, and safflower seed supplements provided 5% dry matter intake as fat. Ultrasound backfat and ribeye area were lower for cows in BCS 4 at parturition compared with BCS 6 cows throughout the study. Cows in BCS 4 at parturition increased BCS over the course of the trial compared with cows in BCS 6. No differences were detected for milk yield, milk energy, milk fat percentage, or milk lactose percentage due to BCS. However, milk protein percentage was less for BCS 4 cows. First service conception rates were not different due to BCS at parturition; however, overall pregnancy rate was greater in BCS 6 cows. No differences were detected in calf birth weight or average daily gain due to BCS at calving. Dietary lipid supplementation did not influence cow weight change, BCS change, backfat, ribeye area, milk yield, milk energy, milk fat percentage, milk lactose percentage, first service conception, overall pregnancy rates, or calf performance. Although cows in poorer condition (BCS = 4) at parturition appeared to be able to increase BCS during lactation, the overall decrease in conception rate indicates cows should be managed to achieve greater body fat or a BCS greater than 4 before parturition to improve reproductive success.

Technical Abstract: Technical Abstract: Three-year-old Angus ×· Gelbvieh beef cows nutritionally managed to achieve a BCS of 4 ± 0.07 (BW = 479.3 ± 36.3 kg) or 6 ± 0.07 (BW 579.6 ± 53.1 kg) at parturition were used in a 2-yr experiment (n = 36/yr) to determine the effects of prepartum energy balance and postpartum lipid supplementation on cow and calf performance. Beginning 3 d postpartum, cows within each BCS were randomly assigned to be fed hay and a low-fat control supplement or supplements with either high-linoleate cracked safflower seeds or high-oleate cracked safflower seeds until d-60 of lactation. Rations were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, and safflower seed supplements provided 5% DMI as fat. Ultrasound backfat and ribeye area were lower (P < 0.001) for cows in BCS 4 at parturition compared with BCS 6 cows throughout the study. Cows in BCS 4 at parturition increased (P = 0.02) BCS over the course of the trial compared with cows in BCS 6. No differences (P = 0.44 to 0.71) were detected for milk yield, milk energy, milk fat percentage, or milk lactose percentage due to BCS. However, milk protein percentage was less (P = 0.03) for BCS 4 cows. First service conception rates were not different (P = 0.22) due to BCS at parturition; however, overall pregnancy rate was greater (P = 0.02) in BCS 6 cows. No differences (P = 0.48 to 0.83) were detected in calf birth weight or ADG due to BCS at parturition. Dietary lipid supplementation did not influence (P = 0.23 to 0.96) cow weight change, BCS change, backfat, ribeye area, milk yield, milk energy, milk fat percentage, milk lactose percentage, first service conception, overall pregnancy rates, or calf performance. Although cows in BCS 4 at parturition appeared to be able to increase BCS during lactation, the overall decrease in conception rate indicates cows should be managed to achieve a BCS greater than 4 before parturition to improve reproductive success.