Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T01:08:38.399Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproduction in continuously underfed Brahman cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. R. Vera ,
C. A. Ramírez  and
H. Ayala
R. R. Vera
Affiliation:
Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical, Apartado Aéreo 6713, Cali, Colombia
C. A. Ramírez
Affiliation:
Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical, Apartado Aéreo 6713, Cali, Colombia
H. Ayala
Affiliation:
Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical, Apartado Aéreo 6713, Cali, Colombia
Get access

Abstract

This experiment examined the effects of sustained levels of undernutrition applied to grazing Brahman heifers on subsequent lifetime reproductive performance. Weaned heifers were raised to a target weight of 270 kg at three different stocking rates to obtain contrasting weight gains (0·097 kglday, L = low; 0·215 kg/day, M = medium; 0·259 kg/day, H = high). They were then subjected to common grazing in a low-quality Brachiaria humidicola pasture, where mean weight changes ranged between -0.100 and +0·300 kg/day depending upon season and physiological condition. Differences in age at first calving between L and the other treatments (200 days) were maintained in subsequent calvings. Calf weaning weights were higher in L and M than in H. The mean weight of calf weaned per cow per year was higher in M than in either L of H. Cow weight at conception increased with parity, and was higher in L than in the other treatments. Similar trends were observed for the dam's weight preand post calving, and at weaning. This trend was associated with higher weight loss during lactation in I..

We conclude that in tropical grazing systems that allow only low growth rates, differences established early in reproductive life may become perpetuated for the lifetime of the animal. Management implications in the context of extensive tropical grazing systems are discussed.

Keywords

Brahman cattlecalvinggrowthreproductionunderfeeding
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 57 , Issue 2 , October 1993 , pp. 193 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cajas, G. S., Vera, R. R., Tergas, L. E. and Ayala, H. 1985. Efecto de la carga sobre el crecimiento y manifestatión del celo en novillas levantadas en pasturas mejoradas. Pasturas Tropicales Boletín 7: (3), 2–7.Google Scholar
Frank, B. R. 1976. Lack of adoption of research results in the dry tropics. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 11: 22P.Google Scholar
Hale, D. H. 1975. Nutrition, hormones and fertility. Rhodesian Agricultural Journal 72: 69–73.Google Scholar
Hoyos, C. and Lascano, C. 1985. Calidad de Brachiaria humidicola en pastoreo en un ecosistema de bosque semi-siempre verde estacional. Pasturas Tropicales Boletin 7:(2), 3–5.Google Scholar
Johnsson, I. D. and Obst, J. M. 1984. The effects of level of nutrition before and after 8 months of age on subsequent milk and calf production of beef heifers over three lactations. Animal Production 38: 57–68.Google Scholar
Louw, B. P., Thomas, C. R. and Lishman, A. W. 1988. The influence of loss and gain of body mass on ovarian activity in beef cows. South African Journal of Animal Science 18: 1–7.Google Scholar
Morris, C. A. 1980. A review of relationships between aspects of reproduction in beef heifers and their lifetime production. Associations with fertility in the first joining season and with age at first joining. Animal Breeding Abstracts 48: 655–676.Google Scholar
Mukasa-Mugerwa, E. 1989. A review of reproductive performance of female Bos indicus (zebu) cattle.Monograph No. 6, International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Reid, J. T., Loosli, J. W., Trimberger, K. L., Adsell, S. A. and Smith, S. E. 1964. Causes and prevention of reproductive failures in dairy cattle. 4. Effect of plane of nutrition during early life on growth. Cornell University, Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 987, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1988. SAS/STAT user's guide, release 6.03 edition. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Thornton, P. K. 1989. Computer experimentation with an energy-based simulation model of animal production in the eastern savannas of Colombia. Tropical Agriculture 66: 217–220.Google Scholar
Vera, R. R. 1991. Growth and conception in continuously underfed Brahman heifers. Animal Produciton 53: 45–50.Google Scholar
Vera, R. R., Seré, C. and Tergas, L. E. 1986. Development of improved grazing systems in the savannas of Tropical America. Proceedings of the second international rangeland congress, Adelaide, Australia, pp. 107–111.Google Scholar
Williams, G. L. 1990. Suckling as a regulator of postpartum rebreeding in cattle: a review. Journal of Animal Science 68: 831–852.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed