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Title: MODERATELY ALTERING WEIGHT GAIN PATTERNS OF SECOND PARITY COWS THROUGH NUTRITION CHANGES THE TIME THAT FEED RESOURCES ARE OFFERED WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENCES IN PRODUCTION

Author
item Freetly, Harvey
item Ferrell, Calvin
item Jenkins, Thomas

Submitted to: Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2004
Publication Date: 3/22/2005
Citation: Freetly, H.C., Ferrell, C.L., Jenkins, T.G. 2005. Moderately altering weight gain patterns of second parity cows through nutrition changes the time that feed resources are offered without any differences in production [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science 83(Suppl. 2):90-91.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We hypothesized that feed resources could be deferred from mid-gestation to either late gestation or early lactation without a decrease in fertility or weight of calf produced in second parity cows. One-hundred and one MARC III composite cows (1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Angus, 1/4 Red Poll, and 1/4 Pinzgauer) were divided into three treatments that consisted of three different feed presentation: M-M-M-M (n = 32), L-H-M-M (n = 33), and L-L-L-H (n = 36). Feed levels resulted in cows losing maternal BW (L), maintain maternal BW (M), or rapidly gain maternal BW (H) during four periods (Period 1: 112 to 201 d of gestation, Period 2: 202 d of gestation to parturition, Period 3: parturition through 27 d of lactation, Period 4: 28 d to ~64 d of lactation). As bred and lactating heifers these cows had the same treatment designations except heifers were fed for Low (L), Medium (M), and High (H) rates of gain during four periods (Period 1: 94 to 186 d of gestation, Period 2: 187 d of gestation to parturition, Period 3: parturition through 27 d of lactation, Period 4: 28 d to ~63 d of lactation). Total feed intake of L-H-M-M and M-M-M-M second parity cows did not differ (P > 0.59), but L-L-L-H cows ate less (P < 0.002). At parturition, body condition score (BCS; scale 1-9) did not differ between M-M-M-M (4.6 +/- 0.1) and L-H-M-M (4.4 +/- 0.1) cows, but both treatments had higher BCS than the L-L-L-H (3.8 +/- 0.1; P < 0.001) cows. The percentage of calves weaned (88 +/- 3%; P = 0.77), weight of calf weaned (167 +/- 5 kg; P = 0.63), BCS at breeding (4.5 +/- 0.1; P = 0.20), or the percentage of cows expressing a corpus luteum at the start of next breeding season (80 +/- 4; P = 0.21) did not differ among treatments. Our findings suggest that timing nutrient availability to second parity cows can be used to change the time that feed resources are used.