Influence of postpartum weight and body condition change on duration of anestrus by undernourished suckled beef heifers

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 75; no. 8; p. 2003
• Main Authors: Lalman, D.L, Keisler, D.H, Williams, J.E, Scholljegerdes, E.J, Mallett, D.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.1997
• Subjects: Aging - metabolism; Aging - physiology; Anestrus - physiology; Animals; BALANCE DE ENERGIA; BEEF CATTLE; BILAN ENERGETIQUE; Body Composition - physiology; BODY CONDITION; BODY WEIGHT; Body Weight - physiology; BOVIN DE BOUCHERIE; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - metabolism; Cattle Diseases - physiopathology; CONDICION CORPORAL; Diet - veterinary; ENERGY BALANCE; ENERGY INTAKE; Energy Metabolism - physiology; ENERGY VALUE; ETAT CORPOREL; FEEDING LEVEL; Female; GANADO DE CARNE; GENISSE; HEIFERS; INGESTION DE NUTRIENTES; INGESTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; Lactation - physiology; MALNUTRICION; MALNUTRITION; METABOLIZABLE ENERGY; NIVEAU D'ALIMENTATION; NIVEL ALIMENTICIO; NOVILLA; NUTRIENT INTAKE; Nutrition Disorders - metabolism; Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology; Nutrition Disorders - veterinary; PARTO; PARTURITION; PESO CORPORAL; PLANE OF NUTRITION; POIDS CORPOREL; POSTPARTUM INTERVAL; Postpartum Period - physiology; PUERPERIO; PUERPERIUM; Random Allocation; Regression Analysis; UNDERNUTRITION; VALEUR ENERGETIQUE; VALOR ENERGETICO
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/1997.7582003x

Two experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between change in weight and body condition on postpartum interval of thin first-calf beef heifers. Twenty-nine (Exp. I) and 36 (Exp. II) Angus and Angus-sired crossbred heifers were limit-fed to reduce their condition score (BCS) to 4 (scale of 1 to 9) at calving. After calving, heifers were assigned to one of four daily ME intakes (range of 198 to 305 kcal ME/kg BW(.75)) designed to create a range of BCS changes. Each unit change in BCS was associated (R2 = .72; P .0001) with a 33-kg weight change. Mean postpartum interval (PPI) from calving to initiation of luteal activity was 121 +/- 6.0 d. As dietary energy density increased, PPI decreased (P .01). Condition score at calving (CCS) accounted for a greater proportion of the variation (R2