Influence of a short-term prepartum supplementation on beef cows and calves’ performance in pastoral conditions

Abstract

Multiparous Aberdeen Angus · Hereford crossbred cows were used to evaluate the effect of supplementation during the last month of gestation on milk production and composition and cow and calf performance. Cows were assigned randomly to supplement (SUP; n = 18) or Control (CON; n = 17) treatments. Supplemented cows were offered (1 kg/100 kg bodyweight) a mix of sorghum grain and protein concentrated (67 : 33 as-fed basis; 16% crude protein, 11% acid detergent fibre) from (mean AE s.e.m.) 33 AE 1.4 days prepartum until calving. Before, during, and after the supplementation period, cows grazed together a native pasture paddock with average forage mass available of 1345 kg/ha of dry matter (10.4% crude protein, 45.2% acid detergent fibre). Cows were blood sampled weekly from -42 to 112 days postpartum (DPP) for serum progesterone and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations. Maximum follicle diameter was measured by ovarian ultrasound examination at 60 DPP. The breeding period lasted 60 days and started at 60 AE 1.4 DPP. There was an interaction between treatment and time on BCS (P < 0.0005). Before calving there were no differences in BCS between cows in SUP and in CON, but at calving SUP cows tended (P = 0.10) to present greater BCS and from calving to 84 DPP BCS was greater (P < 0.05) in SUP with respect to CON cows. There was an interaction between treatment and time on plasma NEFA concentrations (P < 0.0005). During the last month of gestation NEFA concentrations were reduced in SUP cows but there were no differences between treatments during the postpartum period. Milk production decreased linearly from 30 to 150 DPP but there was no effect of treatment on it. Calf bodyweight at birth and at weaning did not differ between treatments (37.5 AE 2.4 and 175.6 AE 2.4 kg, respectively). The probability of cows presenting follicles with diameter !10 mm was greater (P < 0.05) in SUP than CON cows. The length of the postpartum period did not differ between treatments. The probability of cows cycling during the first 90 DPP and pregnancy rate tended (P = 0.08) to be greater in SUP than in CON cows. Supplementation in winter and for only 30 days in the last month of gestation of beef cows under grazing conditions, increased cows' BCS without increasing BW of calves, and tended to improve reproductive performance.

Effects of rice bran and glycerin supplementation on metabolic and productive responses of beef cows

“…It is also possible that the prepartum nutrition plan affects oocyte quality (Krisher, 2004), size, and steriodogenic capacity of the corpus luteum, and uterine function through mechanisms that cause extended anestrus (Lucy, 2003), all of these mechanisms resulting in an improved reproductive outcome. Our results are in agreement with those of other authors who reported benefits on reproduction when primiparous (Wiley et al, 1991;Soto et al, 2001) or multiparous (Quintans et al, 2016) cows were well fed or supplemented before calving. However, Stalker et al (2006) did not find a positive impact of prepartum supplementation on pregnancy rates.…”

“…An additional advantage of short supplementation period of less than 75 days before calving is that it seems not to influence calf birth weight (Wiley et al, 1991;Bellows et al, 2001;Soto et al, 2001;Alexander et al, 2002;Scarsi, 2012;Quintans et al, 2016). Indeed, in the present experiment, calves' weight at calving was not influenced by supplementation, and no difficulties at calving were observed.…”

“…The negative energy balance is evidenced by changes in the concentration of some metabolites and metabolic hormones and a decrease in body condition score (BCS) of the cows. Within the metabolites and hormones, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) are increased and cholesterol, glucose, and insulin are decreased (Wettemann et al, 2003;Quintans et al, 2010;Soca et al, 2014a;Quintans et al, 2016), negatively influencing follicle growth and ovulation (Wiltbank, 1970;Sinclair et al, 2002). Cows with low BCS at calving have longer anestrus postpartum and low pregnancy rates (Wettemann et al, 2003;Soca et al, 2014b), milk production, and calf weight at weaning.…”

“…Short-term supplementation before calving or mating are alternatives to increase the productive and reproductive efficiency of beef cows grazing native swards (Pérez- Clariget et al, 2007;Soca et al, 2013;Quintans et al, 2016). However, since traditional concentrates are relatively expensive, it is necessary to evaluate cheaper alternatives.…”

>b<Prepartum and/or postpartum supplementation with low-moisture molasses blocks to optimize fertility and calf performance in primiparous beef cows>/b<

“…Mainly, when low-quality forages are not limited by quantity, protein supplements are considered the main limiting nutrient (DelCurto et al, 2000). In fact, protein supplementation for beef cows fed tropical forages has a positive effect on forage dry-matter intake, digestibility, nutrient concentration in the rumen, crude protein (CP) intake, BW, BCS, blood metabolites and reproductive performance (da Silva et al, 2017;Quintans et al, 2016;Wilson et al, 2016a).…”