Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high and low supplementation levels pre- and post-weaning on performance, endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive responses of Nellore heifers. Fifty Nellore heifers with 132 ± 9.9 kg average body weight (BW) and 138 ± 19 days of age were supplemented from 4 to 14 months. The heifers were distributed into five supplementation plans: HH—6 g/kg of BW of supplement pre- and post-weaning, HL—6 g/kg of BW of supplement pre-weaning and 3 g/kg post-weaning, LH—3 g/kg of BW pre-weaning and 6 g/kg of BW post-weaning, LL—3 g/kg of BW pre- and post-weaning, and CC—control, no supplementation. Interactions were not significant (P > 0.10). The level of supplement fed pre-weaning did not affect any of the performance variables evaluated at the end of the experiment (P > 0.10). There was a significant effect of supplementation and level of supplementation fed post-weaning on average daily gain (ADG) and final BW (P < 0.05). Overall ADG was also affected only by supplementation and level of supplement fed post-weaning (P < 0.05) with animals receiving 6 g/kg of BW post-weaning gaining more weight. Follicular diameter was greater in animals that received 6 g/kg of BW post-weaning (P < 0.05). In summary, performance, endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive variables evaluated in the current study were improved by the level of supplement fed post-weaning. Heifers receiving supplementation of 6 g/kg of BW post-weaning had greater responses, independent of the level received during the pre-weaning phase.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barcellos, J.O.J., Pereira, G.R., Dias, E.A., McManus C., Canellas, L., Bernardi, M.L., Tarouco, A., Prates, E.R., 2014. Higher feeding diets effects on age and liveweight gain at puberty in crossbred Nelore × Hereford heifers, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 46, 953–960
Cardoso, R.C., Alves, B.R.C., Prezotto, L.D., Thorson, J.F., Tedeschi, L.O., Keisler, D.H., 2014. Use of a stair-step compensatory gain nutritional regimen to program the onset of puberty in beef heifers, Journal of Animal Science, 92, 2942–2949
Detmann, E., Souza, M.A., Valadares Filho, S.C., Queiroz, A.C., Berchielli, T.T., Saliba, E.O.S., Cabral, L.S., Pina, D.S., Ladeira, M.M., Azevedo, J.A.G., 2012. Métodos para análise de alimentos – INCT – Ciência Animal, (Suprema Gráfica: Visconde do Rio Branco)
Detmann, E., Gionbelli, M.P., Paulino, M.F., Valadares Filho, S.C., Rennó, L.N., 2016. Considerations on research methods applied to ruminants under grazing, Nutritime Revista Eletrônica,13, 4711–4731
Gasser, C.L., Behlke, E.J., Grum, D.E., Day, M.L., 2006. Effect of timing of feeding a high-concentrate diet on growth and attainment of puberty in early-weaned heifers, Journal of Animal Science, 84, 3118–3122
Gojjam, Y., Tolera, A., Mesfin, R., 2011. Management options to accelerate growth rate and reduce age at first calving in Friesian–Boran crossbred heifers, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 43, 393–399
Hall, J.B., Staigmiller, R.B., Bellows, R.A., Short, R.E., Moseley, W.M., Bellows, S.E., 1995. Body composition and metabolic profiles associated with puberty in beef heifers, Journal of Animal Science, 73, 3409–3420
Lopes, S.A., Paulino, M.F., Detmann, E., Valente, E.E.L., Barros, L.V., Rennó, L.N., Valadares Filho, S.C., Martins, L.S., 2016. Does supplementation of beef calves by creep feeding systems influence milk production and body condition of the dams?, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 48, 1241–1246
Martin, L.C., Brinks, J.S., Bourdon, R.M., Cundiff, L.V., 1992. Genetic effects on beef heifer puberty and subsequent reproduction, Journal of Animal Science, 70, 4006–4017
Nishimoto, H., Matsutani, R., Yamamoto, S., Takahashi, T., Hayashi, K-G., Miyamoto, A., Hamano, S., Tetsuka, M., 2006. Gene expression of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1, 3 and 4 in bovine follicle and corpus luteum, Journal of Endocrinology, 188, 111–119
NRC, 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle (7th edn), (National Academy Press: Washington)
Roberts, A.J., Geary, T.W., Grings, E.E., Waterman, R.C., MacNeil, M.D., 2009. Reproductive performance of heifers offered ad libitum or restricted access to feed for a one hundred forty-day period after weaning, Journal of Animal Science, 87, 3043–3052
Rodríguez-Sánchez, J.A., Sanz, A., Tamanini, C., Casasús, I., 2015. Metabolic, endocrine, and reproductive responses of beef heifers submitted to different growth strategies during the lactation and post-weaning periods, Journal of Animal Science, 93, 3871–3885
Tietz, N.W., 1986. Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, (W.B. Saunders Co.: Philadelphia)
Valente, T.N.P., Detmann, E., Queiroz, A.C., Valadares Filho, S.C., Gomes, D.I., Figueiras, J.F., 2011. Evaluation of ruminal degradation profiles of forages using bags made from different textiles, Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 40, 2565–2573
Acknowledgements
The authors thank to Fapemig for project funding (Grant: APQ-00389-13) and CNPq and Capes for the scholarships provided to the first author.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
All animal care and handling procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil (protocol CEUAP-UFV 0011).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
da Silva, A.G., Paulino, M., da Silva Amorim, L. et al. Performance, endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive responses of Nellore heifers submitted to different supplementation levels pre- and post-weaning. Trop Anim Health Prod 49, 707–715 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1248-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1248-1