Effect of management factors and blood metabolites during the rearing period on growth in dairy heifers on UK farms

Brickell, J. S.; McGowan, M. R.; Wathes, D C

doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2008.10.005

Cited by 65 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Moreover, size at birth did not affect fertility in the first lactation and low birthweight was, in part, protective against abnormal ovarian cycles in the second service period (Swali and Wathes 2006). In contrast, growth data obtained from 17 UK dairy farms suggest that low postnatal growth rates increase age at first breeding and calving (Brickell et al 2009). …”

Section: Female Offspring: Cattlementioning

confidence: 79%

Epigenetics and developmental programming of welfare and production traits in farm animals

Sinclair

Rutherford

Wallace

et al. 2016

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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Abstract. The concept that postnatal health and development can be influenced by events that occur in utero originated from epidemiological studies in humans supported by numerous mechanistic (including epigenetic) studies in a variety of model species. Referred to as the 'developmental origins of health and disease' or 'DOHaD' hypothesis, the primary focus of large-animal studies until quite recently had been biomedical. Attention has since turned towards traits of commercial importance in farm animals. Herein we review the evidence that prenatal risk factors, including suboptimal parental nutrition, gestational stress, exposure to environmental chemicals and advanced breeding technologies, can determine traits such as postnatal growth, feed efficiency, milk yield, carcass composition, animal welfare and reproductive potential. We consider the role of epigenetic and cytoplasmic mechanisms of inheritance, and discuss implications for livestock production and future research endeavours. We conclude that although the concept is proven for several traits, issues relating to effect size, and hence commercial importance, remain. Studies have also invariably been conducted under controlled experimental conditions, frequently assessing single risk factors, thereby limiting their translational value for livestock production. We propose concerted international research efforts that consider multiple, concurrent stressors to better represent effects of contemporary animal production systems.

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Section: Female Offspring: Cattlementioning

confidence: 79%

Epigenetics and developmental programming of welfare and production traits in farm animals

Sinclair

Rutherford

Wallace

et al. 2016

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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“…As reviewed by Velasquez et al (2008), changes in IGF-1 concentrations before puberty are strongly influenced by nutritional regime and are reduced by dietary restrictions, which also delayed puberty. The circulating concentration of IGF-1 is highly correlated to BW and growth rate during the period of pre-pubertal growth (Lammers et al, 1999;Brickell et al, 2009a). In contrast, Garcia et al (2003) found that IGF-1 levels in beef heifers declined in the 10 weeks preceding puberty.…”

Section: Timing Of Pubertymentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Animals on the same farms are generally subjected to the same management strategies but nevertheless often calve at a wide range of ages and weights. We have previously reported differences in ADG between 1 and 6 months of 0.5 to 1.0 kg/day between farms and of 0.45 to 1.15 kg/day between different heifers on the same farm (Brickell et al, 2009a). Similarly Soberon et al (2012) reported a range from 0.10 to 1.58 kg/day in dairy heifers over the pre-weaning period.…”

Section: Nutrition and Growth Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Wathes

Pollott

Johnson

et al. 2014

Animal

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144

116

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The rearing period has a key influence on the later performance of cattle, affecting future fertility and longevity. Producers usually aim to breed replacement heifers by 15 months to calve at 24 months. An age at first calving (AFC) close to 2 years (23 to 25 months) is optimum for economic performance as it minimises the non-productive period and maintains a seasonal calving pattern. This is rarely achieved in either dairy or beef herds, with average AFC for dairy herds usually between 26 and 30 months. Maintaining a low AFC requires good heifer management with adequate growth to ensure an appropriate BW and frame size at calving. Puberty should occur at least 6 weeks before the target breeding age to enable animals to undergo oestrous cycles before mating. Cattle reach puberty at a fairly consistent, but breed-dependent, proportion of mature BW. Heifer fertility is a critical component of AFC. In US Holsteins the conception rate peaked at 57% at 15 to 16 months, declining in older heifers. Wide variations in growth rates on the same farm often lead to some animals having delayed first breeding and/or conception. Oestrous synchronisation regimes and sexed semen can both be used but unless heifers have been previously well-managed the success rates may be unacceptably low. Altering the nutritional input above or below those needed for maintenance at any stage from birth to first calving clearly alters the average daily gain (ADG) in weight. In general an ADG of around 0.75 kg/day seems optimal for dairy heifers, with lower rates delaying puberty and AFC. There is some scope to vary ADG at different ages providing animals reach an adequate size by calving. Major periods of nutritional deficiency and/or severe calfhood disease will, however, compromise development with long-term adverse consequences. Infectious disease can also cause pregnancy loss/abortion. First lactation milk yield may be slightly lower in younger calving cows but lifetime production is higher as such animals usually have good fertility and survive longer. There is now extensive evidence that as long as the AFC is > 23 months then future performance is not adversely influenced. On the other hand, delayed first calving > 30 months is associated with poor survival. Underfeeding of young heifers reduces their milk production potential and is a greater problem than overfeeding. Farmers are more likely to meet the optimum AFC target of 23 to 25 months if they monitor growth rates and adjust feed accordingly.

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“…Pagano et al (2001) observed a lower IGF-1 level in serum of hypertrophic animals, which somehow may suggest negative relationship between body weight and IGF-1 in serum. Brickell et al (2009) concluded that every 1ng/ml increase at 1 month age reduced mortality risk between 1 and 6 month. According to Sparks et al (2003), the level of IGF-1 in calves' serum after the second day of life depends on its content in colostrum and a contribution in calves' serum after birth, with a negative relation demonstrated between these values.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of cow nutrition in the dry period on colostrum quality and immune status of calves

Nowak¹,

Mikuła²,

Zachwieja³

et al. 2012

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of energy contents in a dry period diets in "7+1" feeding strategy of dry cow including 7 weeks of the dry period (far-off) and 1 week of a close-up period, on colostrum quality and the immune status of calves. Forty Holstein multiparous cows were dried at 56d before the expected date of calving and were assigned to the higher energy diet group (HE; 0.69 UFL/kg DM, NDF 52% DM), or the lower energy diet group (LE; 0.61 UFL/1kg DM, NDF 56% DM). From -7d to the expected calving date up to 21 d of lactation, all cows were fed the same fresh, lactation diet. Samples of colostrum were collected within 2h after parturition and its density, dry matter content and concentrations of immunoglobulins, fat, protein, lactose, urea and somatic cell counts were measured. Calves were weighed 2 h after calving and on the 21d of life. On 3d and 21d of calves' life blood samples were collected and the concentration of IgG, IgA, IgM, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) as well as total protein and albumin concentrations were determined. Treatments had no significant effect on composition of colostrum and serum immunoglobulins and IGF-1 concentration. In both groups the weight of calves at birth was similar, still daily body weight gain during 21 day of rearing period in HE group was higher than in the LE group (P=0.05).

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Effect of management factors and blood metabolites during the rearing period on growth in dairy heifers on UK farms

Cited by 65 publications

References 46 publications

Epigenetics and developmental programming of welfare and production traits in farm animals

Epigenetics and developmental programming of welfare and production traits in farm animals

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

The impact of cow nutrition in the dry period on colostrum quality and immune status of calves

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