Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190951
Title: EFFECTS OF BODY CONDITION SCORE AT PARTURITION AND POSTPARTUM SUPPLEMENTAL FAT EFFECTS ON ADIPOSE TISSUE LIPOGENIC ACTIVITY OF LACTATING BEEF COWS

Author
item LAKE, SCOTT - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item Scholljegerdes, Eric
item NAYIGIHUGU, VENERAND - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item MURRIETA, CHARLES - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item ATKINSON, REBECCA - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item RULE, DANIEL - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item ROBINSON, TIMOTHY - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item HESS, BRETT - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2005
Publication Date: 2/1/2006
Citation: Lake, S.L., Scholljegerdes, E.J., Nayigihugu, V., Murrieta, C.M., Atkinson, R.L., Rule, D.C., Robinson, T.J., Hess, B.W. 2006. Effects of body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat effects on adipose tissue lipogenic activity of lactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 84:397-404.

Interpretive Summary: An experiment was conducted to determine if animals that were poor condition during the last trimester of pregnancy and were fed a high-fat diet during lactation would express enzymes involved in fat metabolism differently than animals that were in good condition during pregnancy. Cow diets were forage-based and supplemented with safflower seeds. Overall, neither safflower seeds nor body condition at calving influenced any of the enzymes involved in fat metabolism. However, body condition did influence enzymes responsible for transporting dietary fat from the blood into fat cells. Another interesting observation was that fat synthesis was higher 30 days after calving compared to 60 days of lactation (peak lactation). In summary, dietary lipid supplementation did not affect fat production and cows in thin condition at calving are better able to deliver dietary fats to fat cells for storage. Additionally, cows in early lactation seemed to be able to synthesize and incorporate more fat into stored lipid than cows during peak lactation. Therefore, cattle that are in poor condition are better able to store fat when fed at a higher plane of nutrition.

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.