Positive relationships between body weight of dairy heifers and their first-lactation and accumulated three-parity lactation production

Handcock, R. C.; López‐Villalobos, N.; McNaughton, L.R.; Back, P. J.; Edwards, Grant

doi:10.3168/jds.2018-15229

Cited by 26 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…A previous study, based on the same heifers as the current study, showed that heifers that were heavier pre-breeding produced more milk in first lactation and accumulated over 3 parities, compared with heifers that were lighter (Handcock et al, 2019). Minimal studies have quantified the survival or reproductive benefits of heavier heifers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…The range in 15-mo BW of FJ heifers where re-calving rate exceeded 70% was between 255 and 396 kg. The mean 15-mo BW of FJ heifers was 301.5 kg (Handcock et al, 2019), indicating a large range (141 kg) in 15-mo BW (46.5 kg below average and 94.5 kg above average) for which the first calving pattern was good.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1, 2008, andDec. 31, 2017, for the 189,936 heifers were extracted from the LIC internal national dairy database as described by Handcock et al (2019); these heifers were termed "heifers that were reared." Stayability was measured to first calving as a 2-yr-old (C2yo), second calving as a 3-yrold (C3yo), and third calving as a 4-yr-old (C4yo).…”

Section: Stayability Data Setmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body weight of dairy heifers is positively associated with reproduction and stayability

Handcock

López‐Villalobos

McNaughton

et al. 2020

Journal of Dairy Science

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This study investigated the relationships between body weight (BW) and stayability, and BW and calving pattern, of 189,936 New Zealand dairy heifers. Heifers were classified into 5 breed groups: Holstein-Friesian (F), Holstein-Friesian crossbred (FX), Jersey (J), Jersey crossbred (JX), and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey crossbred (FJ). Body weight was predicted using Legendre polynomials at 6, 12, and 15 mo of age, and we analyzed their relationships with stayability, calving rate, and re-calving rate over the first 3 calvings. Approximately 92% of heifers calved for the first time at age 2 yr, 76% a second time at 3 yr, and 61% a third time at 4 yr. Heifers that were heavier were more likely to remain in the herd for first, second, and third calving compared with heifers that were lighter. Furthermore, we found positive curvilinear relationships between prebreeding BW and reproductive performance of dairy heifers. Heifers that were heavier at 6, 12, and 15 mo were more likely to calve early for first calving compared with heifers that were lighter, regardless of breed group. In addition, we found a large range in BW where the probability of calving or re-calving early was high. For example, FJ heifers that were between 255 and 396 kg at 15 mo of age had 21-d calving and re-calving rates above 75 and 70%, respectively. For second and third lactations, however, heifer pre-breeding BW showed only small effects on the 21-d calving and recalving rates. For heifers that were at the heaviest end of the BW range in the current study, slight declines in stayability and reproductive performance occurred, compared with heifers in the mid-range of BW. Consequently, for heifers that were above average in BW, the benefit of increasing BW before first breeding would be small and might even result in slight declines in stayability and reproductive performance. For heifers that were below average in BW, considerable beneficial effects on stayability and reproductive performance are predicted as a result of improving rearing practices to produce heavier heifers throughout the pre-breeding rearing phase.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stayability Data Setmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Body weight of dairy heifers is positively associated with reproduction and stayability

Handcock

López‐Villalobos

McNaughton

et al. 2020

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…LW has also been found to be a reliable indicator of calf progress and, by proxy, allows producers to adjust management to improve productivity, 38 and future lactation performances. 43,44 Disease events cause losses in LW as it promotes energy diversion away from growth to immune defences, and diarrhoea causes nutrient loss, dehydration, and reduction in feed intake by suppressing appetite. 1,45 In this study, pneumonia was observed in 10 calves (IR = 23%, 95% CI = 13% to 37%), and diarrhoea was observed in eight animals (IR = 18%, 95% CI = 10% to 32%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linear body measurements and productivity of subtropicalHolstein–Friesiandairy calves

et al. 2020

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Objective The study aimed to describe growth parameters and to quantify the association between linear body measurements as predictors of liveweight (LW) of Holstein–Friesian (HF), and HF crossbred dairy calves in Queensland. A secondary objective was to quantify the effect of disease events on LW change. Study Design Longitudinal study. Methods Fortnightly LW, hip height (HH), hip width (HW) and heart girth (HG) measurements were recorded from 16 male and 28 female HF calves from birth until weaning. The association between linear body measurement and the effect of a disease event on LW change were explored using linear mixed‐effects modelling with random intercepts and random slopes. Results HG was the best body measure used individually as a predictor of calf LW (R2 = 82%; P < 0.001), while the combined use of HG, HW and HH was the most accurate predictor of calf LW between birth and weaning (R2 = 90%; P < 0.001). HW, average feed intake and total feed intake were significantly affected by disease events (P < 0.05). On average, total average LW loss associated with a single pneumonia event was estimated at 14.6 kg (95% CI = 10.5 to 18.7 kg; P < 0.05). Conclusions Calves of this study performed at a level consistent with the previously published reports. Growth performance was significantly compromised by pneumonia. HW was found to be the least predictive individual measure, and the combined use of HH, HW and HG had the most accurate prediction of calf liveweight from birth to weaning.

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“…Therefore, it has been demonstrated that calves heavier at birth and at weaning calved earlier than lighter calves [8]. Another study has reported a positive correlation between lifetime milk yield and BW of Holstein cows [9]. According to literature, the genetic selection pursued for decades has led to a progressive deterioration of fertility in Holsteins worldwide [10]; in fact productivity and overall fertility are genetically divergent traits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Body Weight and Growth in Early Life on the Reproductive Performances of Holstein Heifers

2021

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In Italy most dairy cows produce milk for cheese manufacture and are farmed in intensive systems, with free stall barns, milking parlor or robotic milking, total mixed ration and no (or limited) access to pasture. The main objective for farmers is to maximize farm income and minimize farm costs by adopting strategies and ‘best practices’ in the early life of heifers. Monitoring body weight (BW) and fertility of young stock is fundamental to ensure good performances in future dairy cows and to enhance farm profit. In this study BW (kg) and average daily gain (ADG, kg/d) recorded at different stages in early life of 382 Holstein calves were used to estimate associations with fertility traits. Data consisted of BW at birth (BW0), three BWs (BW1, BW2, and BW3) recorded in three phases of calf’s early life, ADG in the three phases (ADGI, ADGII, and ADGIII), ADG of the entire period (ADGI-III), number of services per pregnancy (NS), and age at first calving (AFC). As expected, the four BWs were positively correlated to each. In general, heavier calves were characterized by better fertility compared to lighter calves. Monitoring BW and ADG in replacement heifers starting from the early age is recommended to improve NS and AFC at farm level and could be useful to set up genetic improvement programs. Future studies will benefit from the addition of milk-related traits and the increase of sample size (number of farms).

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Positive relationships between body weight of dairy heifers and their first-lactation and accumulated three-parity lactation production

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

Body weight of dairy heifers is positively associated with reproduction and stayability

Body weight of dairy heifers is positively associated with reproduction and stayability

Linear body measurements and productivity of subtropicalHolstein–Friesiandairy calves

Effect of Body Weight and Growth in Early Life on the Reproductive Performances of Holstein Heifers

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